Reptile poachers penalised
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, October 11 2012:
Cracking down against poaching of endangered animals, the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate, Thoubal has today imposed a penalty of Rs 10,000 each against two reptile poachers who were apprehended yesterday while transporting 30 Tokay Geckos.
The reptile species is considered to be rare and highly endangered but there had been a spurt in its poaching and trading for a mature reptile reportedly commands a high price in some of the South East Asian countries.
The court invoked provision of Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, in proclaiming the penalty against the two accused persons namely Kh Nganba and S Ibomcha, both in the 60s.A team of Thoubal district police recovered 30 young Tokay Geckos from the duo's possession during frisking at Waikhong area of the district yesterday.
The reptiles were poached from Bupi forest in Churachandpur district.
The two accused had confessed to the police that they bought the Tokay geckos for rearing and subsequent sale upon attaining maturity apparently with the hope to become wealthy persons.
According to Lourembam Biswajeet Meitei, managing trustee of Thoubal unit People for Animal, an NGO campaigning against cruelty and poaching of animals, both the accused persons were produced before the CJM, Thoubal court today along with the seized geckos.
Having established guilty under section 50 (4) of the Wildlife Protection Act 1972, the court imposed fine of Rs 10,000 each on the two accused, he said.
The reptiles were supposed to be reared at the Langathel residence of Ibomcha.
In a separate petition filed by PFA , Thoubal , the same court maintained that the seized geckos should be released to their natural home by tomorrow.
"Since the court has allowed our plea, we along with Manipur forest officials, as maintained by the court, will release the geckos at an undisclosed place tomorrow by 4pm," Biswajeet said.
The seized reptiles are being kept at the PFA's animal shelter enclosure with the consent of Forest Department.
In the last four months, over 40 of the reptile species have been rescued by the police from different parts of the valley districts.
Earlier the seized reptiles were released at Keibul Lamjao national park in Bishnupur district, which is also the only natural habitat of the endangered Sangai.