Kerala Forest Department has sought a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the recent spike in elephant poaching in forests spanning Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.
A highly placed source in the State Forest Department told The Hindu here this morning that the Forest Department had already sent in the proposal for a CBI probe to the Home Department. The formal recommendation has to be made by the Home Department.
The State has witnessed a sudden increase in elephant poaching and the Forest Vigilance has arrested over 40 persons allegedly involved in poaching and recovered tusks.
The meeting of Forest Ministers from various South Indian States had decided to coordinate their fight against poachers through the formation of a full-time secretariat that would coordinate the anti-poaching activities.
