Conservationists push for dedicated wildlife crime unit in Maharashtra

Wildlife crime, including hunting and trafficking, has become highly organised, demanding intelligence-led action. Representation pic/istock

A proposal has been submitted to the Maharashtra forest department seeking the creation of a dedicated wildlife crime control division to tackle illegal hunting, trafficking, and organised wildlife crime in the state. The proposal, put forward by wildlife conservationist Rohan Bhate, is backed by several conservation groups across Maharashtra.

Expert perspective

Speaking to mid-day, Bhate said, "Wildlife crime in India has increasingly become organised and sophisticated, involving illegal hunting, trafficking of wildlife derivatives, and networks operating across state and international borders. Tackling such crimes requires specialised intelligence gathering, coordinated enforcement mechanisms, and digital tools to track offenders and offences".

Lessons from Kerala

The proposal highlights Kerala's HAWK (Hostile Activity Watch Kernel) system, operational since August 2020, which maintains a centralised database of wildlife crimes, offenders, and ongoing investigations. Kerala officials say it has improved transparency, intelligence sharing, and accountability. The state also has a specialised forest intelligence cell investigating serious wildlife crimes like ivory poaching and sandalwood smuggling.

Need for action

Maharashtra's rich biodiversity faces rising threats from trafficking networks. Bhate's data shows around 175 offenders arrested in recent years, including seizures of ivory, tiger and leopard skins, and corals. Pawan Sharma, president of Resqink Association For Wildlife Welfare (RAWW), said, "A dedicated intelligence-based unit for Maharashtra can significantly strengthen enforcement and help authorities respond more efficiently to organised wildlife crime."

175
No of wildlife crime offenders arrested in recent years, according to Bhate's data