GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
Ministry of Environment and Forests 

RAJYA SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1104
ANSWERED ON DECEMBER 04, 2012

QUESTION
Poaching of Leopards in Bandipur Tiger Reserve in Karnataka

1104. SHRI RAJEEV CHANDRASEKHAR:

Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTS be pleased to state;

(a)   whether it is a fact that poaching of leopards at Bandipur Tiger Reserve in Karnataka was detected recently;

(b)   if so, the details thereof; and

(c)    the details of preventive action Government has taken or proposes to take against poaching of leopards and tigers in the reserve?

ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE)
FOR ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTS
(SHRIMATI JAYANTHI NATARAJAN)

(a) & (b) As per the information received from the State Government of Karnataka, except for one incident on 14.9.2012 in which one leopard was killed outside the forests in snare laid by villagers for controlling wild pig menace, no poaching of leopards has been reported in Bandipur Tiger Reserve.

(c) The Government of Karnataka has taken following measures to prevent poaching of leopards and tigers in Bandipur Tiger Reserve:

1. Establishment of Anti-poaching camps at sensitive places of Bandipur Tiger Reserve.
2. Establishment of Special Tiger Protection Force (STPF) to ensure strict protection of tigers and other species.
3. Combing in the fringe areas to detect and remove the snares.
4. Foot patrolling of field staff in the sensitive places.
5. Monsoon patrolling by departmental elephants in sensitive places.
6. Development of intelligence network around the Park to prevent any poaching.
7. Arms and ammunition have been provided to Anti-poaching camp staff and other field staff to prevent and/or control poaching of wildlife.
8. Field staffs are engaged in night patrolling and highway patrolling.
9. Day to day monitoring of the patrolling of field staff by Conservator of Forests at Division level.

10.  Establishment of effective communication system by providing wireless walkie-talkies to all the field staff.