Only a combined effort from the government, individuals and NGOs can bring down poaching in the country, according to wildlife experts and representatives of various NGOs, at the workshop on “Capacity building for effective wildlife law enforcement” held here.

Discussing the ‘Role of NGOs and Scientific Institutions in Combating Wildlife Crime’, the panel consisting of Dipandar Gosh, Onkuri Majumdar, Surendra Verman and S.P. Goyal said that despite cooperative efforts, there was a gap between government and private agencies that made it difficult to curb wildlife crimes.

Onkuri Mujamdar from Freeland Foundation said that NGOs should come forward to share most of their activities with the government. “For instance, when a large scale seizure is done, the respective official immediately reveals it to the world through media without discussing with government officials,” she said.

Another participant added that such revelations would indirectly lead to poaching as poachers would know about the value of the property seized and the place in the articles are found. “Success is not in the measure of seizure but in stopping the poaching,” he said.

One of the panelists also added that the support of media played a major role in preventing poaching. “The very idea about wild animals should change. People should understand the truth that animals are only entering land that was once a forest area whenever there is an entry by a wild animal into human habitation,” pointed out one of the NGO members.

Besides providing technical assistance, the panelists also said that NGOs had largely helped the Forest Department in rescuing birds and other animals in various parts of the country.