Technology has advanced so much in the past few decades that now we have apps for almost everything and every need. With all these advancements, our life has become a lot more comfortable and easier. However, technology is good till it is in good hands, otherwise, it can have negative manifestation, too.
Nowadays, even criminals are using technology in so many ways to commit crimes, and wildlife is no exception. In an exclusive conversation with Indian Masterminds, APCCF, Agra zone, Sunil Choudhary, IFS, highlighted the need for technological advancement in catching wildlife criminals.
TRAFFICKING MARKET GROWING
According to reports and data, illegal wildlife trade is the fourth most profitable transnational crime, only behind drug trade, arms trade, and human trafficking. The wildlife trade is initiated by the poaching of animals. Talking about the reasons behind poaching, Mr. Sunil Choudhary said, “I believe there are three types of poaching mostly. First is pot poaching (for food). Then some do it for their passion of decorating houses with horns and skins of animals to showcase their courage. The third and most scary is commercial poaching. This leads to all sorts of illegal activities, as the market for wildlife products is increasing. Earlier it used to be traditional medicine market in China, now it has spread to various parts of America and Europe, where leather is in high demands for all sorts of products.”
Mr. Choudhary also explained that reason why these types of crimes are increasing by the day, specially in our country. He said that the general society is not much affected by what happens in the jungle. Besides this, wildlife criminals feel it is not a stigma as it is not covered in Indian Penal Code laws and they won’t get any severe punishment.
BUSTING DARK SITES
Like most criminals, wildlife criminals are also using technology on every level. From poachers and couriers to middle man and consumers, each one in the chain is connected by technology. The minimum they do is use cell phone to communicate in coded words. Mr. Choudhary said that in the past few years, many illegal wildlife trafficking crimes have been deducted based on certain sequential call patterns and IP address. “There are certain dark websites on the internet dedicated to buying and selling of illegal wildlife products. We need to bust those sites, otherwise we will lack behind on this front,” said the officer.
SEPARATE WING
He also mentioned that wildlife departments have geared up on the technology front. Now, we have e-surveillance, drone monitoring and camera traps in place. “Mostly, what we do is analyze the data retrieved through all these and work accordingly. We need to focus on getting the full data base of wildlife criminals because the one we have now is confined. Also, we need to develop networks within the wildlife department and collaborate with various states,” Mr. Choudhary said.
He also pointed that the forest department is already loaded up with work which include managing habitation and conservation, tracking poachers, etc. So, we need to have a separate crime and cyber cell wing to look after wildlife crimes with the help of technology, as we have in police and other departments.
