Delhi nominates NGO under investigation for leopard poaching to wildlife board
Wildlife SOS has been named as an expert representative in the Delhi State Wildlife Board despite an ongoing investigation in Madhya Pradesh.
The Delhi government has nominated the environmental NGO Wildlife SOS as an expert representative in the Delhi State Wildlife Board, according to ThePrint. A gazette notification dated 23 October announced the nomination of the Delhi-based organisation to the statutory advisory body.
The Madhya Pradesh State Tiger Strike Force (STSF) questioned Wildlife SOS CEO and co-founder Kartick Satyanarayan in October. This questioning relates to the recovery of 10 leopard skins in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, which the STSF alleged were linked to a poaching network in Kuno National Park.
The STSF report stated the poaching network operated using intelligence provided by people involved with Wildlife SOS, and two officials from the NGO were arrested during the investigation. Wildlife SOS said in a statement that it provided assistance and information that helped identify and arrest the alleged offenders.
Wildlife SOS stated there may have been miscommunication between Forest Department authorities regarding information-sharing but maintained that its team followed established protocols. The NGO described the nomination as a significant affirmation of its work over three decades.
Wildlife activist Ajay Dubey raised concerns regarding the nomination, questioning how an NGO accused of risking wildlife could sit on official policy boards. The 27-member board will be chaired by Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and includes Wildlife Trust of India and WWF-India.
The board also consists of 10 nominated experts, including scientists, environmentalists, and former IFS officers.