Wildlife Crime Control Unit, Dimapur on October 19 during routine highway patrolling along NH-29, seized 32 nos of wild birds (dead) from different road side stalls between Medziphema Town and Pherima Village.
In a press release the unit informed that the culprits selling the illegal wildlife items fled on seeing the patrolling party, leaving behind the items.
The seized wildlife items includes 2 nos of Red Jungle Fowl, 12 nos of Yellow Footed Green Pigeon, 3 nos of Red Vented Bulbul, 1 no. of Blue Throated Barbet, 2 nos of Myna, 1 no. of Asian Pied Sterling, 1 no. of Golden Fronted Leafbird and 10 nos. of Larks.
All the seized wildlife items were disposed off by burning and burying in the presence of officials of the department at Forest Office Complex, Dimapur on the day the items were seized.
WCCU, Dimapur said, even after extensive awareness and repeated warning given to the public to abstain from wildlife crime(s), certain individual(s) had been involved in those unlawful activities.
The unit noted that such activities were a serious offense under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, and arrested offenders can be penalized with fine upto Rs. 25,000 or imprisonment up to 7 years or both.
Additionally, as per State Govt. Notification, the 18th June, 2013, the various assistance given to the villages under whose jurisdiction the wildlife offences has been detected, would be curtailed, the unit warned.
The Wildlife Warden, Dimapur also appealed to the general public to refrain from the selling or purchasing of illegal wildlife items in order to avoid legal action(s).
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