Enough’s Enough: Environment Ministry to Crack Down on Poaching

Poachers beware, the Environment Ministry is preparing to raise the maximum fine for poaching from Rs 25,000 to Rs 50 lakh. Possession of animal trophies, like animal body parts, would be punished by five to seven years of imprisonment.

The draft of the newly proposed law, an amendment of the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972, will be considered by the Indian Forest Service.

Tigers receive special provisions in the draft, with a minimum of seven years imprisonment for any hunting offence in tiger sanctuaries, with a minimum fine of Rs 5 lakh.

Repeat offences would also be punished by a minimum of seven years.