Wildlife-Related Crime Numbers Witness a Significant Decline
TL;DR
Between 2020 and 2024, wildlife-related crime cases in India showed a significant decline, totalling 2,701 incidents. The numbers peaked at 820 in 2020 before falling to a low of 349 in 2023. West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, and Haryana remained hotspots, underscoring the need for targeted enforcement against illegal wildlife trafficking.
Context
In August 2025, government data presented in the Lok Sabha brought India’s ongoing fight against wildlife crime back into the national spotlight. Acknowledging the primary role of state governments in enforcing the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has highlighted a significant decline in registered cases between 2020 and 2024. While individual arrests and seizures, which include busts involving tiger skin, rhino horns, and ivory, continue to make headlines and underscore the persistent threat, this comprehensive dataset provides a crucial opportunity to analyse the broader trends.
Who Compiles This Data?
This data is compiled by the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB), a statutory body under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. The WCCB actively works with state and central law enforcement agencies, as well as international bodies like INTERPOL, to collect intelligence, coordinate enforcement efforts, and combat organised wildlife crime across the country.
Where can I download Clean & Structured Data about the Wildlife Related Crime Cases?
Clean, structured, and ready-to-use datasets related to Year and State-wise Wildlife-related Crime Cases Registered in India can be downloaded from Dataful.
Key Insights
Trends in Wildlife Crime Cases
Between 2020 and 2024, India registered a total of 2,701 wildlife crime cases. The data shows a notable fluctuation in yearly numbers, with the highest number of cases registered in 2020 at 820. Following this peak, cases declined to 632 in 2021, 546 in 2022, and reached a low of 349 in 2023 before slightly increasing to 354 in 2024. This trend suggests a variable pattern in reported wildlife crime.
State-wise Breakdown of Cases
The enforcement efforts between 2020 and 2024 were particularly concentrated in a few states, with the data highlighting distinct regional hotspots.
- West Bengal registered the highest number of cases at 349.
- Uttar Pradesh followed with 297 cases.
- Haryana reported 243 cases.
This concentration of cases in these states points to the critical need for continued vigilance and strategic anti-trafficking efforts in these regions.
Why Does It Matter?
While India has made significant strides in conservation and wildlife protection, these numbers provide crucial insights into the persistent challenges of illegal wildlife trafficking. Tracking the number of registered cases helps policymakers, enforcement agencies, and conservationists.
- The data provides a quantitative benchmark of wildlife crime in India, moving beyond anecdotal evidence to reveal clear trends and regional patterns.
- A decline in registered cases could signal more effective anti-trafficking measures, but it could also indicate a lack of reporting, highlighting where investments in technology and infrastructure could make the most impact.
- Resources can be directed to the geographical hotspots where they are most needed to protect endangered species and disrupt criminal networks, based on these trends.
Key Numbers (from 2020 to 2024)
- Total cases registered: 2,701
- Top 3 states with the highest number of cases:
- West Bengal: 349
- Uttar Pradesh: 297
- Haryana: 243
- Peak number of cases in a year: 820 (2020)
- Lowest number of cases in a year: 349 (2023)