2 weeks ago
Top Delhi wildlife NGO accused of nexus with leopard poachers
Some people, called poachers, hunt wild animals like leopards and sell their skins, which is against the law.
Police caught four poachers carrying ten leopard skins on a highway in India.
A famous animal charity named Wildlife SOS was praised for helping catch those poachers.
But now police think the charity's leader, Kartick Satyanarayan, may have secretly told poachers to hunt the leopards.
They believe the charity wanted to catch poachers itself so everyone would cheer for it and give it money.
Police found metal traps in the forest, and they are testing leopard bones found buried there against the skins.
The charity's leader has been asked to come and answer police questions.
So the people expected to save leopards are now suspected of helping hurt them.
This is like a detective story where the hero might turn out to be the villain.
Madhya Pradesh State Tiger Task Force (STTF) arrested wildlife trader Bhagwan Singh alias Salim and associate Wasim over an alleged big-cat poaching operation.
Investigators say the pair were on the payroll of Delhi-based wildlife NGO Wildlife SOS and claimed they acted on instructions of its CEO Kartick Satyanarayan.
Satyanarayan has been served a notice to appear before the investigating officer in Shivpuri on August 17.
The case stems from the July 23 arrest of four poachers with 10 leopard skins on the Gwalior-Agra highway, a bust Wildlife SOS credited to its own surveillance.
Three leg-hold traps and buried leopard remains found in Shivpuri and Morena forests are being DNA-matched against the seized skins.
- Who
- Wildlife SOS CEO Kartick Satyanarayan, arrested wildlife trader Bhagwan Singh alias Salim and associate Wasim, and investigators from the Madhya Pradesh State Tiger Task Force (STTF).
- What
- An investigation into allegations that Wildlife SOS officials organised leopard poaching and staged seizures to build the NGO's anti-poaching profile and attract donors and grants.
- Where
- Shivpuri and Morena forests in Madhya Pradesh, with arrests on the Gwalior-Agra highway; Wildlife SOS is based in Delhi.
- When
- Bhagwan Singh was arrested on August 11 and Wasim on August 13; four poachers with the skins were arrested on July 23; Satyanarayan faces a notice to appear on August 17.
- Why
- Investigators suspect the operation was run "for personal gains", including staging seizures to win credit, big donors and grants.
Investigators' allegations
Wildlife SOS's account
Genuine rescue work or staged seizures
Investigators' allegations
STTF investigators allege Satyanarayan organised poaching and staged seizures to build his and the NGO's anti-poaching profile "for personal gains".
Wildlife SOS's account
Wildlife SOS had credited months of surveillance by its Forest Watch anti-poaching unit for the July 23 bust of 10 leopard skins.
Cost of the operation
Investigators' allegations
Forest department sources question why the network kept killing leopards until 10 were dead if the goal was to catch poachers.
Wildlife SOS's account
The article notes the possibility that the operation was an undercover mission to nab poachers, which did end with arrests of poachers carrying the leopard skins.
Key facts
- NGO under scrutiny
- Wildlife SOS (Delhi)
- Accused named by investigators
- Kartick Satyanarayan, Wildlife SOS CEO and co-founder
- Arrested suspects
- Bhagwan Singh alias Salim (August 11) and Wasim (August 13)
- Seized evidence
- 10 leopard skins, 3 leg-hold traps, buried leopard remains
- First arrests
- Four poachers on July 23 on the Gwalior-Agra highway
- Notice to appear
- August 17, before the Investigating Officer in Shivpuri
- Evidence checks
- Remains sent to Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, for DNA matching
- NGO founded
- In 1995 by Kartick Satyanarayan and Geeta Seshamani
Quotes
Forest department source
Forest department official
“This network started poaching leopards in the Shivpuri area last year. If it was indeed an undercover operation to nab poachers, why did they continue until 10 leopards had been killed? They have to explain why they created such a demand for skins and distributed leg-hold traps to be deployed in a sensitive landscape where we also have cheetahs.”
indianexpress.com
“After both key accused, who were on the payroll of Wildlife SOS, named Kartick Satyanarayan, he has been asked to appear before the Investigating Officer. We are coordinating with the WCCB (Wildlife Crime Control Bureau)…we will do everything it takes to secure our forests.”
indianexpress.com









