Check this news - its going on - just legalize the sport
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2011/20110106/punjab.htm#18
Killing of wild animals goes unchecked in Patiala
Aman Sood
Tribune News Service
Patiala, January 5
Illegal killing of wild animals and theft of trees continues at the birs (prohibited wild life area) across Patiala. This is due to the alleged nexus of the forest department officials and smugglers on which the forest minister Tikshan Sud has promised strict action.
Wildlife smugglers have posed a risk to forest wood worth crore and wild animals in over 10 birs, spread across the length and breadth of Patiala
The forest department has done nothing to check the illegal trade as a result of which the state is losing its limited wildlife area.
Axing trees in the bir land (land covered under the Forest and Wildlife Act) is a major source of income, as several trees are smuggled out of the bir areas. On Tuesday night, smugglers trespassed into the forest land to hunt for the wild boar. “This is the best season for us, as in winters boars have a good fat cover and their meat is a rare delicacy,” claimed a hunter, accepting that he also trespasses into the bir.
Many wild animals, including blue bull, monkeys, wild boar, deer, squirrels, peacocks and numerous species of birds, inhabited the birs in Patiala.
While outsiders are prohibited in the birs. There is a notion that the offence has an unofficial approval of the forest department.
A former hunter confirmed that following the casual attitude of the forest guards posted at the birs, the smuggling of wood goes unabated. “Its easy to figure out how people carry wood everyday and store it,”he added.
A senior forest department official told The Tribune, that in May, several trees were burnt and numerous animals were charred to death following a fire. It is alleged that the fire was a handiwork of the forest department officials to cover up huge theft of forest trees from Gurdialpura Bir near Samana. A police case was registered and a probe was ordered.
Forest officials said the hunters were loaded with guns and ample ammunition. “They are well-connected people and without a search light and night vision binoculars, it is not possible to check the illegal smuggling,” they added.
Minister for Forests and Wildlife Tikshan Sud said an independent probe would be conducted and responsibility of officials would be fixed.
