Archive · 8 Oct 2026
Maharashtra Plans Stronger Forest-Police Coordination Against Wildlife Crime
Officials in Maharashtra want different agencies to work together to stop wildlife crime.
They say these crimes can cross district, state and even national borders.
The state’s forest and police departments will have regular meetings at district level.
Serious cases may be investigated by teams made up of people from different agencies.
Each district is also to have forest and police contact officers.
The agencies plan to train together every year.
Officials are working on rules for handling exotic animals seized at airports.
They also proposed a shared place to keep information about wildlife crimes and offenders.
M.S. Reddy said wildlife crime crosses district, state and international borders and requires cooperation among agencies.
A joint circular dated September 1, 2026, calls for District Tiger Cells chaired by police superintendents to meet monthly.
The circular also provides for quarterly divisional reviews, joint investigation teams for serious cases, district-level nodal officers and annual joint training.
Maharashtra is planning a permanent Western Region coordination mechanism involving forest, police, customs and other agencies.
Officials also proposed an inter-agency SOP for exotic animals seized at airports and a shared platform for information on wildlife offences and offenders.
- Who
- Maharashtra forest and police officials, with other agencies including WCCB, Customs, DRI, the Navy, Mangrove Cell and Port Authorities.
- What
- Plans to strengthen coordination and joint action against wildlife crime.
- When
- Announced at an Inter-Agency Workshop during Wildlife Week 2026; the joint circular is dated September 1, 2026.
- Where
- Maharashtra, with a proposed permanent coordination mechanism for the Western Region.
- Why
- Officials said wildlife crime crosses administrative and national borders and cannot be tackled by one agency alone.
- Joint circular
- Issued by the PCCF Wildlife and the Director General of Police on September 1, 2026.
- District Tiger Cells
- To be chaired by the Superintendent of Police and meet monthly.
- Review schedule
- Revenue Division-level reviews are to be held quarterly.
- Serious cases
- Joint Investigation Teams are to take up serious cases.
- District officers
- Every district is to have Forest and Police nodal officers.
- Joint training
- Forest, police and other relevant staff are to train together annually.
- Airport seizures
- An inter-agency SOP for exotic animals seized at airports is being prepared.