Kashmir wildlife officials burn truckloads of animal fur, skins

Dec 4, 2007, 14:49 GMT

New Delhi - Wildlife authorities in India's northern Jammu and Kashmir state have burnt eight truckloads of furs and skins of endangered animals as part of efforts to stop their illegal trade, news reports said Tuesday.

The huge stockpile of furs, skins and animal parts, estimated to be worth 99 million rupees (about 2.5 million dollars) in the international market, was burnt in public by state wildlife officials on Monday, IANS news agency reported.

At least 125,000 items - including skins, rugs, fur coats and gloves made from dozens of tigers, snow leopards, leopards, hill fox, leopard cats, black bear, otters and wolves - went into the bonfire.

All the species are protected under India's Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, the Jammu and Kashmir Wildlife Protection Act, 1978, and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species.

'We have waited many years for this moment. This historic event is taking place with the support of the local community, in an open and transparent manner, for the ultimate protection of our precious wildlife,' AK Srivastava, Jammu and Kashmir's chief wildlife warden, said.

Fur traders were forced to give up the illegal items by a court order. 'Compensation will be given to those furriers who willingly surrendered their stock,' Ashok Kumar of Delhi-based non-profit Wildlife Trust of India, said, adding that the court would oversee the compensation scheme.

'Like Kenya's burning of stockpiled ivory in 1989, I hope these flames send a strong message to consumers around the world that the trade in endangered species is illegal and totally unacceptable in today's society,' said Robbie Marsland, director of Britain-based International Fund for Animal Welfare.