Patna, Sep 18: Bihar will strengthen its crackdown on wildlife crime by using Geographic Information System (GIS) technology to map sensitive locations and trafficking routes, while intensifying surveillance across railway, road and air networks, officials said.
The state is also exploring the installation of CCTV cameras at toll plazas to monitor vulnerable routes and suspicious vehicles, according to discussions at an inter-agency meeting on “Strengthening Wildlife Law Enforcement in Bihar” held at Aranya Bhawan here on Thursday.
Officials from the environment, forest and climate change department, police, enforcement, transport, border, forensic and other agencies attended the meeting.
The enforcement strategy will focus on tracing entire wildlife trafficking networks rather than limiting investigations to the recovery of animals or their remains. Agencies have been directed to examine associated financial transactions as part of the investigations.
Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Arvinder Singh stressed the need for better coordination among enforcement agencies, citing Bihar’s strategic geographical location.
Chief Wildlife Warden Abhay Kumar called for greater intelligence sharing and swift coordination to combat poaching and illegal wildlife trade.
Ruchika Rishi, Inspector General of Police-cum-Additional Director at the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) headquarters, highlighted the growing use of social media and digital platforms in wildlife-related offences. She stressed the need to preserve digital evidence and ensure that action against offenders is legally sustainable.
WCCB Eastern Region Deputy Director Suyog Subhashrao Patil presented an analysis of wildlife crime trends, sensitive locations and trafficking routes covering the period from 2021 to August 2026.
Gaurav Ojha, Field Director of Valmiki Tiger Reserve, highlighted vulnerable routes and enforcement challenges in the region.
The meeting also called for appointment of nodal officers across concerned agencies, regular coordination, secure sharing of information on seizures and joint operations, and updated standard operating procedures for airports and the aviation sector.
