Click to play videoNew Delhi: In the biggest ever conviction in wildlife crime in the country, 20 people have been convicted for poaching 10 lions in the Gir National Park in March 2007.
The judgement was pronounced on Thursday in a sessions court in Junagadh. All 20 including nine women have been sentenced to three years in jailed and have also been fined Rs 10,000 each.
All the poachers were convicted and sentenced under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
Gir in Gujarat is the last bastion of the Asiatic Lion and at last count their numbers stood at 300. CNN-IBN had in 2006 showed how the lions of Gir were being poached.
The case was being actively pursued by the Gujarat CID and Wildlife protection Society of India.
"It is the largest wildlife conviction in history. So I think it sends a very strong message that these sorts of things will not be tolerated. I must add that I have full admiration for the Gujarat CID that did this investigation. It is a great day for wildlife," Belinda Wright, Head, Wildlife Protection Society of India, said.
Wright said the conviction of those involved in poaching would come as a big deterrent to professional poachers.
"I think the professional poachers who went to Gujarat to kill lions and these are the people who normally kill tigers will now think twice before returning there," Wright said.
She also asked other states to treat crimes related to wildlife with more seriousness.
"One of the problems is conviction take such a long time but in this case it's been dealt with very quickly. I think it sets an example to others states how they should treat wildlife cases such as these. Put them of fast track and treat them with great seriousness as it should be," she added.
In the past, in India, wildlife crime cases have always had poor conviction rates and this judgement is being considered as a landmark.
It is hoped that the judgement, a small but significant step towards saving the Gir lions from extinction, will send out a strong message to poachers across the country.
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