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MPHAL/GUWAHATI: In a strange twist to the illegal trade in wildlife parts rampant in the North-east, Assam Rifles personnel have seized a large
amount of rhino skins and bones as well as other animal parts from two persons at Tengnoupal near Manipur's Moreh town in Chandel district bordering Myanmar.
On Wednesday, Manipur Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (PCCF), S Singsit, said, "I have received information about the seizure of Rhino parts and other animal organs from my staff." On Monday, instead of the usual recovery of rhino horns, the jawans found 25 kg of rhino bones, 5.5 kg of rhino skin, 10 bear glands and 482 kg of Pangolin shells from the possession of Darshel Lamkang (21) and R R Romen Chothe (19). The duo was heading towards Moreh when they were apprehended. The soldiers also seized 14,120 acetified tablets from them.
Poachers generally take away the horn and leave behind carcass after killing a rhino. But the present haul hints at a departure, said a wildlife crime expert. "If rhino bones and skin are being smuggled, then it gives a completely new dimension to the illegal wildlife trade in the northeastern region," he added. Assam houses two-third of the world's one-horned rhino population and the animals are frequently poached for its horn, which are smuggled mostly through the Myanmar border into China and Southeast Asia for uses in traditional Chinese medicine.
Both persons, along with the seized items, were handed over to Manipur forest Office at Pallel, Assam Rifles officials said. However, Assam PCCF (wildlife) Suresh Chand said it's impossible to tell whether the bones belong to rhinos till forensic tests at the Dehradun-based Wildlife Institute of India (WII) confirm it. "First of all, the bones need to be certified as that of rhinos by WII. Only then can proper probe be undertaken. So far, everyone knows that rhino horns are smuggled, and the claim by paramilitary forces could only be an apprehension," Chand said, adding, "Only WII is authorized to say whether the bones are of rhinos."
The porous India-Myanmar international border near Moreh is one of the major conduits for smuggling wildlife parts. Himalayan black bears are also killed in the North-East for its gall bladder, which is said to have medicinal uses, while pangolin shells are used for making decorative items in China and Southeast Asian countries.
In February this year, two tiger skulls, 16 kg of tiger bones and paws were intercepted from Bongyang in the same district. Singsit reiterated on Wednesday that steps are underway to set up a Wildlife Crime Control Bureau office at Moreh soon, keeping in mind the frequent interception of wildlife parts from the area.
MPHAL/GUWAHATI: In a strange twist to the illegal trade in wildlife parts rampant in the North-east, Assam Rifles personnel have seized a large
amount of rhino skins and bones as well as other animal parts from two persons at Tengnoupal near Manipur's Moreh town in Chandel district bordering Myanmar.
On Wednesday, Manipur Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (PCCF), S Singsit, said, "I have received information about the seizure of Rhino parts and other animal organs from my staff." On Monday, instead of the usual recovery of rhino horns, the jawans found 25 kg of rhino bones, 5.5 kg of rhino skin, 10 bear glands and 482 kg of Pangolin shells from the possession of Darshel Lamkang (21) and R R Romen Chothe (19). The duo was heading towards Moreh when they were apprehended. The soldiers also seized 14,120 acetified tablets from them.
Poachers generally take away the horn and leave behind carcass after killing a rhino. But the present haul hints at a departure, said a wildlife crime expert. "If rhino bones and skin are being smuggled, then it gives a completely new dimension to the illegal wildlife trade in the northeastern region," he added. Assam houses two-third of the world's one-horned rhino population and the animals are frequently poached for its horn, which are smuggled mostly through the Myanmar border into China and Southeast Asia for uses in traditional Chinese medicine.
Both persons, along with the seized items, were handed over to Manipur forest Office at Pallel, Assam Rifles officials said. However, Assam PCCF (wildlife) Suresh Chand said it's impossible to tell whether the bones belong to rhinos till forensic tests at the Dehradun-based Wildlife Institute of India (WII) confirm it. "First of all, the bones need to be certified as that of rhinos by WII. Only then can proper probe be undertaken. So far, everyone knows that rhino horns are smuggled, and the claim by paramilitary forces could only be an apprehension," Chand said, adding, "Only WII is authorized to say whether the bones are of rhinos."
The porous India-Myanmar international border near Moreh is one of the major conduits for smuggling wildlife parts. Himalayan black bears are also killed in the North-East for its gall bladder, which is said to have medicinal uses, while pangolin shells are used for making decorative items in China and Southeast Asian countries.
In February this year, two tiger skulls, 16 kg of tiger bones and paws were intercepted from Bongyang in the same district. Singsit reiterated on Wednesday that steps are underway to set up a Wildlife Crime Control Bureau office at Moreh soon, keeping in mind the frequent interception of wildlife parts from the area.
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