Owls Poaching For Black Magic Practices Before Diwali On The Rise, Cops Patrol Wild And Web To Keep A Check

New Delhi: This festive season animal activists and law enforcement agencies are busy tracking poachers and hunters not only in the wilderness but also in the virtual world.

Yes, wildlife activists have pointed out rampant poaching of endangered and protected species of birds and animals during the festive season. They said poachers trap them in the forest but all the dealing and communication is being done on social media platforms.

Experts said that most of these animals and birds are brought to Delhi and neighbouring region before being transported to other parts of the country and this is happening in the name of ‘religious belief’.

Officers investigating such cases told The420.in that a special digital vigil is being kept in the digital world where these criminals are striking their deal, placing their order and making payment. “Most of the communication is on popular social media platform but a large chunk of trade is being done on the dark web which is little difficult to track,” said a senior officer of Wildlife Crime Control Bureau.

Officials said it is being seen that smuggling of owls is at its peak during the festival of Diwali and Laxmi Puja. Protected species of owls are captured and sacrificed to supply tantrik rituals and ceremonies during these festivals. Birds and animal parts are used for black magic and sorcery driven by superstition.

TRAFFIC in one of its report in 2018 said occult practitioners drive consumer demand by touting the use of owl parts for purposes ranging from curing various illnesses to fighting the effects of evil spirits. Birds are poached for their bones, talons, skulls, feathers, meat and blood, which are then used in talismans, black magic, and traditional medicine. Owls, especially with “ears” (or tufts) are thought to possess greatest magical powers, and Diwali is claimed to be the most auspicious time for making owl sacrifices.

Experts claims that to cater to religious superstitious beliefs poachers have set up camps in agricultural fields, forest and other habitats start trapping these vivid birds almost a month before the festival. This mainly includes Indian Rollers, Owl and Peacock. The birds are caged, their legs tied, their wings trimmed and even glued so that they cannot fly.

Since these rare birds are hard to spot in metro cities and urban areas, bird catchers start camping in forest and rural areas for months to cruelly capture, torture and even slaughter beautiful animals for religious superstition.

Several owl species are placed in the threatened or endangered list of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Of the over 30 owl species found in India, one falls under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 while the rest are under Schedule IV. The trade of owls in the country is also prohibited under the Act. The exact number of birds traded each year countrywide is unknown, it certainly runs into thousands of individuals.

Gautam Buddh Nagar police chief Alok Singh asked the officers to remain vigilant towards occult practices and illegal slaughtering of animals for sacrifice done by some people around this time.

Similarly, Uttarakhand forest department has cancelled holidays of its ground staff and increased patrolling in the forest and reserve areas to keep a check on poaching by occultists ahead of Diwali. Increasing patrolling, the Corbett Tiger Reserve (CTR) has now cancelled holidays of its field staff till November 15.