Rajasthan strengthens wildlife law enforcement, organises training for forest officials at Ranthambore
Sawai Madhopur, Rajasthan: In a significant step towards strengthening wildlife law enforcement, the Rajasthan Forest Department, in collaboration with WWF-India, organised a two-day training workshop on the Effective Implementation of Wildlife Laws and Combating Wildlife Crime on 4–5 May 2026 for forest officials of the Ranthambore Tiger Reserve, Kailadevi Wildlife Sanctuary, and the Social Forestry Division at Sawai Madhopur, Rajasthan.
The workshop, designed to support a timely response to wildlife crime and related enforcement gaps, brought together 35 forest officials, including the Deputy Conservator of Forests (DCF), Assistant Conservators of Forests (ACFs), and Range Forest Officers (RFOs). It also focused on strengthening participants’ understanding of wildlife laws, their effective enforcement, and ensuring the successful prosecution of wildlife offences.
In the inaugural address, Shri Manash Singh, IFS, Deputy Director of the Ranthambore Tiger Reserve, highlighted critical procedural gaps in the handling of wildlife crime cases. He stressed the importance of applying relevant legal provisions for biodiversity conservation and the need for well trained and well equipped forest personnel.
Dr Kamlesh K. Maurya, Landscape Coordinator, Western India Conservation Landscape, WWF-India, noted that Rajasthan has rich biodiversity and remains vulnerable to wildlife crime and illegal wildlife trade. The collaborative training initiative has been undertaken to enhance the knowledge and skills of forest officials, enabling more effective implementation of wildlife laws and improved on-ground enforcement.”
Technical sessions, led by wildlife law expert Dr Rakesh Kumar Singh, provided detailed insights into the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, including provisions on hunting, investigation procedures, the powers of forest officers, and prosecution for offences. Key highlights included interactive discussions on recent amendments to the Act, evidence collection, recording witness statements, preparing seizure memos, and ensuring legally admissible documentation.
By integrating legal knowledge with experience-sharing, the workshop provided a valuable platform for enforcement officers to strengthen professional networks and enhance their collective capacity to effectively combat wildlife crime, contributing to the long-term conservation of India’s natural heritage.
