India to give army powers to protect wildlife

INDIA: India plans to enlist the army to help protect its threatened tiger population and other animals, giving soldiers the power to arrest or even shoot poachers, officials said on Monday. The smuggling and sale of Indian tiger and leopard skins is common across India's border with China and poaching of endangered animals is widespread throughout the country.

While the country's 1.1 million-strong army the world's second largest army after China is deployed in many environmentally fragile border hotspots, troops currently have no powers to act against wildlife crimes. Officials told Reuters the government was planning to amend existing legislation to give the army powers to act in border areas where smuggling and poaching is common.

"The amendments to the Wildlife Act will mean that the army will be able to arrest, detain and even open fire on poachers who evade arrest," Kalpana Palkiwala, a spokeswoman for the Ministry of the Environment and Forests, said.

New Delhi, Tuesday, Reuters.