Govt committed to weed out illegal wildlife trade: Prakash Javadekar

Javadekar also said govt has entered into an MoU with America to get latest technology to arrest those engaging in poaching

Stressing that the Centre was committed towards weeding out illegal wildlife trade, Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar today said 'Sanjay Gandhi National Park' in the city was a perfect example of human-wildlife harmony.

"There are so many villages within the Sanjay Gandhi National Park. There are 35 leopards along with different species of other animals here. Yet, there has not been an instance of man-animal conflict at the park.

"This is a case of human-wildlife harmony that has been made possible by many efforts that will continue in future as well," Javadekar said at an event here.

He said the Centre has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the US for latest technology to help in arresting those engaged in poaching.

"The government is committed to weed out illegal wildlife trade. Thus, we burn carcasses of animals, reptiles, snakes, etc. Our commitment is full and final towards the issue," he said.

"We have entered into an MoU with America to get the latest technology to arrest those engaging in poaching," he said.

Javadekar said in the last two years, there have been strong anti-poaching efforts due to which four poachers were killed in Kaziranga National Park. He said poachers in other wildlife sanctuaries have also been nabbed and cases against them are being pursued.

"We will encourage water and fodder augmentation in urban forests and wildlife sanctuaries," he said.