Gir Forest Fines Top ₹13 Lakh for Wildlife Crimes

Over the past four months, the Gir East Forest Division, a critical habitat for Asiatic lions, has registered 75 wildlife-related offences, resulting in the recovery of over ₹13.30 lakh in fines. This division, encompassing vital sanctuaries like Gir, Paniya, and Mitiyala, is home to approximately 400 lions. The offences included 38 cases of unauthorized sanctuary entry, with fines totaling around ₹7.76 lakh, of which eight involved hunting. Punitive actions for hunting non-Schedule I species yielded ₹2.2 lakh. Additionally, 16 cases of timber transportation without permits led to ₹3.03 lakh in fines. Another 17 offences were registered for plastic dumping and illegal grazing, with ₹32,500 collected. Authorities are actively seeking public assistance to report any social media content or sightings related to wildlife harassment or illegal activities, emphasizing the need for immediate reporting to forest officials to aid conservation efforts.