Title: Status of wildlife crime and illegal wildlife trade in SECURE Himalaya sites of Sikkim
KeyWords: Wildlife Crime, illegal wildlife trade, SECURE Himalaya
Year of Publication: 2020
ISSN No: NA
Author Name: TRAFFIC the wildlife trade monitoring network
Details:
Executive Summary: Wildlife Crime Report - Sikkim
In high range Himalaya, detection and monitoring of wildlife crimes are extremely challenging due to large, remote, and difficult to patrol landscapes. However, acquiring baseline information is essential for decision makers to make management informed decisions to effectively combat wildlife crimes. We conducted 315 household surveys covering 25 villages in East, North and West Sikkim of the project landscapes to identify the poaching hotspots, species being poached and trade routes. We also collated records from law enforcement agencies and media reports to generate state level baseline information on critical districts and most targeted species within the state.
Our results indicate 21 villages from the 25 villages surveyed, which reported incidences of wildlife crime /illegal wildlife trade. In North Sikkim, nine of the 12 villages reported a minimum of one species being targeted, while in West Sikkim all the eight villages indicate a minimum of one species being targeted while Dzongri, Netham, Phalekey, Gomathang, Satbhaiya and Achale areas have reported snares and traps which were recovered. These snares and traps were targeted for Musk Deer and Asiatic Black Bear while in East Sikkim other than Kyongnosla (Menla area), 4 villages reported a minimum of two species being targeted. Higher incidences of wildlife crime in Lachen and Topung villages, except for Hee- Gyathang which targeted Assamese macaque Macaca assamensis and Barking Deer Muntiacus muntjak, all villages reported harvest targeting seven plant species namely Jatamansi Nardostachys jatamansi, Satua Paris polyphylla, Chirouto Swertia chirayiita, Kurki Picrorhiza scrophulariiflora and Bikhma Aconitum ferrox Wall. Himalayan Yew Taxus wallichiana, Ginseng Panax pseudoginseng and one species of an entomo-pathogenic fungus popularly known as Caterpillar Fungus Ophiocordyceps sinensis. For Sikkim State, from the animals there are three records of Barking Deer Muntiacus muntkak, one record of Alpine Musk deer Moschus chrysogaster, Snake, Blood Pheasant Ithaginis cruentus, Himalayan monal Lophophorus impejanus, one of Pangolin and Clouded leopard Neofelis nebulosa respectively while for plants there are three records for Satua. The main reasons for poaching of animals and extraction of medicinal plants and caterpillar fungus from the project sites were for monetary gains, while few poached animals for consuming their meat.
Our findings may help law enforcement agencies in strategically allocating their financial and human resources as effectively as possible in combating wildlife crimes. Further insight is required to examine the environment and anthropogenic factors contributing to these patterns which were analysed.