15 tiger-related wildlife crimes were reported last year

Yangyel Lhaden

The Department of Forests and Park Services (DoFPS) recorded 15 wildlife crimes involving tigers last year, with cases related to illegal trade of tiger bones and skins.

Of these, eight offenders are currently serving prison sentences ranging from one to five years, while seven cases are under prosecution.

In 2021, 16 offenders involved in tiger bone and skin cases were recorded, with offenders serving prison terms ranging from one to five years. No illegal wildlife case was recorded in 2020 due to Covid-19, according to DoFPS.

Hunting, killing, capturing, or collecting any protected species of wild animals or plants is illegal, as per section 490 of the Penal Code of Bhutan 2004.

Tigers, one of Bhutan’s flagship species, are classified as a totally protected species under the Forest and Nature Conservation Rules and Regulations of Bhutan 2017. Any offense against these protected species is graded as a fourth-degree felony under the Penal Code.

The rise in wildlife crimes is not limited to tigers alone. The DoFPS records show a steady increase in wildlife crimes since 2021, with 1,318 crimes reported last year, compared to 1,284 in 2022, 1,264 in 2021, and 1,917 in 2020.

The most common offenses between 2020 and 2023 were illegal timber extraction, illegal harvesting of non-wood forest products, and illegal fishing.

In the same period, the DoFPS collected more than Nu 133 million in fines for wildlife crimes. Illegal timber extraction alone accounted for Nu 94 million, followed by Nu 6.7 million for aquatic and fishing violations, and Nu three million for timber misuse.

Additional fines included Nu 2.1 million for illegal non-wood forest products, Nu 1.9 million for wildlife and poaching, and Nu 5.3 million for land-related offenses, among others.

A DoFPS official said that wildlife crime, including poaching and illegal trafficking, had far-reaching impacts on the ecosystem and the nation at large. “Wildlife crime contributes to significant biodiversity loss, threatens ecosystem function with over-exploitation, risk of extinction of endangered species and risk of spread of zoonotic diseases.”

Globally, poaching, trafficking, and the consumption of tiger bones for medicinal use in Asia remain significant issues, with illegal trade impacting jaguars and lions, according to the World Wildlife Crime Report (WWCR) 2024.

Globally, wildlife crime is one of the most lucrative crimes run by sophisticated, international, and well-organised criminal networks. The high rewards and low risks of illegal wildlife trade and the minimal investment required by offenders are reasons why peopel commit wildlife crimes.

Despite gaps in knowledge about the full extent of wildlife trafficking and associated crime, there is sufficient evidence to conclude that it remains a significant global problem far from being resolved, the WWCR states.

The WWCR calls for policy interventions to combat wildlife crimes, including community engagement, investigative follow-up, corruption control, prosecutorial support, consumer demand reduction, and inter-agency cooperation.

In Bhutan, the DoFPS employs a comprehensive strategy to combat wildlife crime, including capacity building for frontline officials, collaboration with governmental and non-governmental organisations, and use of technologies such as drones for monitoring.

In additon, the National Wildlife Crime Control Committee and National Zero Poaching Strategy also play crucial roles in these efforts.

“We operate within a robust legal framework and conduct extensive anti-poaching patrolling in hotspot areas, which aims to address poaching, illegal wildlife trade, and human-wildlife conflict, ensuring sustainable conservation practices and adherence to international commitments and conventions,” the DoFPS official said.

Conservation efforts have led to a marked increase in wild tiger population in the country, sharply increasing from 103 in 2015 to 131 in 2023. However, this success has also brought challenges, with 580 cases of human-tiger conflicts reported between 2020 and 2024.

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