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| Officials with a seized leopard skin and a man arrested on charges of poaching, in Siliguri, on April 5, 2026. | Photo Credit: PTI |
By Veritas Times News Desk | May 2026
India’s official wildlife crime statistics may be painting a dangerously incomplete picture, with experts warning that significant data gaps between agencies are obscuring the true scale of illegal wildlife activities.
A recent analysis highlights that data compiled by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) often underrepresents wildlife crime, largely because it depends on police records and does not fully incorporate cases handled by forest departments across states.
The Illusion of Decline
Official figures suggest that wildlife crime in India is declining. However, this trend may be misleading.
Between 2020 and 2024, recorded cases dropped significantly, with numbers falling from 820 cases in 2020 to around 349 in 2023.
Yet, conservationists argue that this “decline” reflects underreporting rather than actual reduction in crime.
Wildlife offences are often detected and recorded by forest departments rather than police, creating a fragmented data ecosystem. Without integration, large volumes of cases remain excluded from NCRB statistics.
Fragmented Reporting System
India’s wildlife crime monitoring involves multiple agencies, including state forest departments and the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB), which coordinates enforcement and intelligence gathering.
However, the lack of a unified reporting framework leads to:
- Inconsistent data entry
- Delayed reporting
- Missing case records
Government efforts are underway to improve coordination. In 2026, authorities directed forest officials and police units to upload wildlife crime data regularly to improve real-time tracking.
Ground Reality: Crime Still Active
Despite official trends, field reports and independent tracking suggest wildlife crime remains widespread.
- At least 202 wildlife crime incidents were documented from media reports in 2025 alone.
- States like West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh continue to emerge as hotspots.
Experts warn that illegal wildlife trade, often linked to organized crime networks, remains highly profitable and difficult to monitor.
Structural Challenges
The gaps are not just statistical but systemic. Key issues include:
- Weak inter-agency coordination
- Limited forensic and financial resources
- Low conviction rates
Studies indicate wildlife crime in India remains a low-risk, high-reward activity due to enforcement limitations.
Why It Matters
Wildlife crime is not just an environmental issue. It directly impacts biodiversity, ecosystems, and even public health.
Globally, illegal wildlife trade is considered one of the largest transnational crimes, comparable to drug and arms trafficking.
Experts stress that unless India develops a centralised, transparent, and real-time data system, policy decisions will continue to rely on incomplete evidence.