By | Arvind Jadhav
A proposal to establish a ‘Maharashtra Wildlife Crime Control Department’ has been submitted to the state’s Chief Wildlife Warden and Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife), Nagpur, highlighting the urgent need to strengthen wildlife law enforcement. The proposal emphasizes creating a specialized and modern mechanism to combat the rising threat of wildlife-related crimes in the state.
Wildlife crimes today have become highly organized, involving illegal hunting, trafficking of animal parts, and well-connected interstate and international networks. The proposal stresses the importance of intelligence gathering systems, digital data management, and coordinated enforcement to effectively counter such activities.
The proposal draws inspiration from the model adopted by the state of Kerala, where the HAWK (Hostile Activity Watch Kernel) system has been successfully implemented. Operational since August 2020, HAWK serves as a centralized digital platform for recording wildlife crimes, tracking offenders, documenting wildlife deaths, and monitoring ongoing investigations. Developed with the support of the Wildlife Trust of India, the system has significantly improved transparency, streamlined information sharing, and reduced reliance on manual records.
Additionally, Kerala has established a Forest Intelligence Cell (FIC) that focuses on tackling serious crimes such as ivory trafficking, sandalwood smuggling, and organized wildlife trade. The state also works closely with the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau and other agencies to provide specialized training to officers under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, strengthening enforcement capabilities.
The proposal suggests that implementing a similar dedicated department in Maharashtra would enable more effective intelligence collection, crime analysis, offender tracking, and coordination with national agencies. It also recommends including wildlife crime investigation and successful prosecution as key responsibility areas (KRAs) for forest officials.
The proposal was submitted by wildlife enthusiast Rohan Bhate-Shah, who claims to have independently built an informer network to support forest authorities. According to him, his efforts have contributed to the arrest of around 175 accused individuals in recent years, along with seizures of ivory, skins, horns, and other wildlife contraband.
Given Maharashtra’s rich biodiversity and the growing threat of wildlife trafficking, the proposal argues that establishing a Wildlife Crime Control Department would be a forward-looking and crucial step. If implemented, it could position the state as a national leader in wildlife protection and enforcement.
