Odisha Makes Critical Changes to State Wildlife Protection Rules to Bolster Enforcement

MID challenges of poor conviction rate in forest and wildlife-related offences, the state government has amended the existing Wildlife (Protection) (Odisha) Rules 1974, introducing critical changes to enhance the enforcement of wildlife laws and ensure swift action against offenders.

- SUDARSAN MAHARANA @Bhubaneswar

The amended rules now include at least 10 new standardised forms for investigation of offences related to wildlife crimes and are designed to streamline documentation and follow-up procedures for forest and wildlife authorities. Among the newly introduced forms are a seizure list, carcass details, search warrant form, and an offence list—tools that will help in systematically recording and tracking wildlife crime cases.

Sources in the Forest, Environment and Climate Change department said despite stress on proper management of forest and wildlife resources, the conviction rate in forest-related offences including wildlife crimes in the state have been low for years.

While thousands of arrests were made in connection with poaching, electrocution, seizure of wildlife articles, theft of timber, sandalwood and forest vehicles among other offences between 2019 and 2023, the conviction rate in these cases till last year, as per the department statistics, is less than 1%.