Wildlife crimes on rise for lenient punishment

Wildlife crimes in the country are rising alarmingly as authorities concerned are unable to ensure exemplary punishment for the criminals, which experts and officials blamed was for weaknesses in the existing wildlife protection act.   

Among 251 cases registered by the forest department under the wildlife protection act from March 12, 2007 to April 5, 2015, only 60 have been disposed of by fining the miscreants, officials of the department said.

Out of the remaining cases, 156 have been resolved with the accused yet to be identified or with them giving undertakings to refrain from committing such crimes and 35 are still pending.  

Two poachers were given one year's imprisonment and fined Tk 50,000 each for killing a tiger, a punishment that was too lenient, said officials of the forest department.

However, the Wildlife (Preservation & Security) Act, 2012 says that if anyone kills a tiger or an elephant, he or she shall be punished with imprisonment for a term not less than two years and not exceeding seven years and also with a fine of at least Tk 1 lakh and not exceeding Tk 10 lakh.

And in case of repetition of the same offence, the offender shall be punished with imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 years and with a fine not exceeding Tk 15 lakh.

According to official data, at least 50 tigers were killed in the last 14 years since 2001, but no one has been punished yet with the penalty allowed by the law.

Forest Conservator (wildlife circle) Dr Tapan Kumar Dey said the reality is that offenders get minor punishment for committing wildlife crimes since all consider these crimes as minor offenses and also the Wildlife (Preservation & Security) Act, 2012 is too weak to book the offenders.

Official data shows that a total of 43 cases were registered in Khulna circle of the Forest Department over the last seven years. The offenders were convicted in only one case while 21 of these cases are still pending and the offenders in the remaining cases were let go after giving undertakings.

In Dhaka circle, some 142 cases were filed during the same period. Of the cases, 31 have been disposed of while two cases are still pending. Three cases were filed in Chittagong circle and all the cases remain pending.