New Delhi: As poaching continues to be a major threat for the tigers, the National Tigers Conservation Authority (NTCA) has joined hands with Traffic India, an NGO to support effective on-ground enforcement action for protection of the threatened stripped cats.

This is for the first time that the government body has inked a pact with any NGO to work for the conservation as well as monitoring of tiger and prey populations in the country.

"This collaboration with the NGO should give us an edge in fighting wildlife crime particularly trade in tiger parts in the country," Rajesh Gopal, NTCA member secretary told PTI.

He pointed out, "Wildlife crime in India has taken a heavy toll on our precious flora and fauna. Over the years, the crime has transmutate itself into a fully-fledged nexus of poachers and wildlife traders that operate not only in the country but also have well established trans-border connections."

Gopal said as per agreement, a comprehensive database on wildlife trade and crime, especially with reference to the tiger will be developed to support effective on-ground enforcement action.

"We will also conduct capacity building programmes for various enforcement agencies to meet emerging and existing challenges of wildlife enforcement," the tiger expert said, hoping to utilise manpower and intelligence resources of the NGO to curb poaching.

It was in the last meeting of the Authority that the Environment Ministry gave a green signal to the long-pending demand of the NTCA as well the NGOs in the field to work jointly for the protection of tigers which are the umbrella animal in the wildlife.

Source : PTI