Poaching in the Sundarbans

The latest outrage was perpetrated last month under the cover of the annual Rash Mela festival when crowds of pilgrims converged on the forest. The forest department was apparently unable to check the thousands of boats entering the forest in the name of carrying pilgrims to the festival site and hordes of poachers took advantage of this situation to plunder the forest for game all week long.

It is true that the annual convergence of devotees on the remote islands of the Sundarbans makes the tracking of poachers during the festival difficult for the forest department authorities. Nevertheless, the slaughter was so widespread and open that it beggars credibility that the authorities were powerless to put a stop to it or at the very least to take steps to contain the plundering.

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Even more distressing than the forest department's apparent fecklessness was the utter lack of moderation and decency shown by the poachers. By all accounts the week-long festival was marred by what amounted to an orgy of butchery with deer being trapped, skinned, and eaten in massive quantities. According to one account, the poachers gorged themselves on nothing but fresh venison all week long.

The forest department must improve its policing of our natural heritage and take strong measures to counter the poaching that runs rampant. And as a nation we need to raise awareness of the value of conservation so that people understand that it is unacceptable to continue to plunder our steadily dwindling wildlife in this shameful manner.