Wildlife Smuggling in India: State wise Insights for 2025
Wildlife poaching and smuggling in India threaten endangered species, with Uttar Pradesh holding the highest incident rate in 2025.
| Rank | State/UT | Estimated Incidents (2025) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Uttar Pradesh | 93 |
| 2 | Rajasthan | 37 |
| 3 | Maharashtra | 34 |
| 4 | Madhya Pradesh | 26 |
| 5 | Assam | 22 |
| 6 | West Bengal | 19 |
| 7 | Karnataka | 19 |
| 8 | Bihar | 18 |
| 9 | Jharkhand | 18 |
| 10 | Tamil Nadu | 14 |
| 11 | Odisha | 11 |
| 12 | Gujarat | 10 |
| 13 | Andhra Pradesh | 9 |
| 14 | Chhattisgarh | 9 |
| 15 | Kerala | 9 |
| 16 | Mizoram | 7 |
| 17 | Manipur | 6 |
| 18 | Delhi | 5 |
| 19 | Haryana | 4 |
| 20 | Telangana | 4 |
| 21 | Tripura | 3 |
| 22 | Uttarakhand | 3 |
| 23 | Arunachal Pradesh | 2 |
| 24 | Goa | 2 |
| 25 | Himachal Pradesh | 2 |
| 26 | Nagaland | 2 |
| 27 | Punjab | 2 |
| 28 | Sikkim | 2 |
| 29 | Andaman and Nicobar Islands | 1 |
| 30 | Chandigarh | 1 |
| 31 | Meghalaya | 1 |
| 32 | Puducherry | 1 |
| 33 | Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu | 0 |
| 34 | Jammu and Kashmir | 0 |
| 35 | Ladakh | 0 |
| 36 | Lakshadweep | 0 |
Wildlife poaching and smuggling in India encompass the illegal hunting of animals such as tigers and pangolins, as well as the trafficking of their parts, including ivory and skins, across international borders.
These illicit activities pose a significant threat to endangered species and disrupt ecosystems.
This article examines the estimated ranking of wildlife poaching and smuggling incidents across India’s 28 states and 8 Union Territories (UTs) for the year 2025, detailing the statistics, analyzing why certain states experience a higher frequency of incidents, and revealing the underlying causes of this unlawful trade.
The estimates are based on data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) 2023, reports from the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) 2024, and preliminary trends for 2025, as comprehensive data for 2025 will not be available until late 2026.
The projection for 2025 anticipates approximately 372 wildlife poaching and smuggling incidents nationwide, reflecting a 5% increase from the 354 cases recorded in 2024.
Uttar Pradesh ranks highest with 93 incidents, followed by Rajasthan (37), Maharashtra (34), and Madhya Pradesh (26). Assam and West Bengal follow with 22 and 19 incidents, respectively.
Smaller Union Territories such as Lakshadweep, Ladakh, and Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu report no incidents.
This slight increase from 2024 corresponds with a 5% rise in seizures, according to the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), despite a decrease from 820 cases in 2020, attributed to enhanced enforcement measures.
In 2023, the NCRB documented 296 cases under the Wildlife Protection Act, a decline from 349 in 2022.
What accounts for the disparity in incident frequency among states? Let us explore the reasons.
Reasons Behind Increased Wildlife Crime in Certain States
Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan
Uttar Pradesh has recorded 93 incidents of wildlife crime, largely due to its extensive forests, such as Dudhwa National Park, which is home to tigers and rhinos.
In 2023, the state reported 70 cases, accounting for 25% of the total in India, with poachers primarily targeting tiger skins and bones for the illegal market.
The state’s large population of 230 million and its proximity to the Nepalese border contribute to its status as a smuggling hub.
In contrast, Rajasthan has 37 reported cases linked to its deserts and forests, including Ranthambore, where poachers hunt leopards and illegally trade sand boa snakes.
In 2024, the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) confiscated 15 live animals in Rajasthan, including endangered bird species, which has elevated the state’s ranking due to proactive enforcement efforts.
Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh
Maharashtra has experienced 34 incidents of wildlife crime, primarily associated with forests like Tadoba, where both tigers and leopards are at risk from poaching activities.
Additionally, the ports in Mumbai serve as exit points for smuggling operations involving ivory and tortoise shells. In 2024, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) seized 10 tonnes of pangolin scales in Maharashtra, valued at ₹20 crore.
Madhya Pradesh, on the other hand, has reported 26 cases, primarily from the Kanha and Bandhavgarh reserves, including 8 instances of tiger poaching in 2023.
The urban demand for exotic pets in both states, with reports indicating that 5% of Mumbai’s affluent population owns illegal parrots, further exacerbates the smuggling issue.
Assam and West Bengal
Assam has recorded 22 incidents of wildlife crime, highlighting its significance as a biodiversity hotspot and a smuggling corridor. Kaziranga National Park has seen rhino poaching, with 5 cases reported in 2024.
The state’s border with Myanmar facilitates the smuggling of pangolins and red sandalwood, according to WCCB reports.
West Bengal, with 19 cases, is linked to the Sundarbans mangroves and the ports of Kolkata, where seizures in 2024 included 500 exotic birds.
The geographical proximity of both states to Bangladesh further drives cross-border trafficking, with 20% of the cases in 2024 being associated with international smuggling networks.
Smaller States and Union Territories
Lakshadweep, Ladakh, and Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu (DNHDD) have reported no incidents, attributed to their small geographical size and limited biodiversity.
With a population of 64,000, Lakshadweep’s isolated islands do not present poaching opportunities.
In Ladakh, the high-altitude deserts host few species, such as snow leopards, and there have been no reported incidents in 2023.
Similarly, smaller states like Sikkim, which recorded only 2 incidents, experience minimal activity due to the scarcity of smuggling routes and the presence of robust forest patrols.
What Factors Contribute to Wildlife Poaching and Smuggling?
Multiple elements account for the ongoing nature of these crimes and the greater difficulties faced by certain states.
Abundant Biodiversity and Insufficient Protection
India is home to 8% of the world’s biodiversity, encompassing 92,000 species, including 1,300 that are endangered, according to the WCCB.
The forests in Uttar Pradesh and Assam lure poachers seeking high-value items such as tiger bones (valued at ₹1 crore/kg in black markets).
A mere 5% of India’s 5.3 lakh square kilometers of forests are equipped with advanced surveillance systems, facilitating poaching activities.
In 2024, the WCCB reported 1,652 seizures, with 40% involving threatened species.
Global Demand and Smuggling Pathways
The international appetite for exotic pets and traditional medicine drives smuggling activities. According to the UNODC, China and Southeast Asia account for 70% of the pangolin scales smuggled from India.
Mizoram and Manipur (with 7 and 6 incidents respectively) serve as significant routes to Myanmar, with 2024 seizures including 200 kg of scales.
Coastal states such as Maharashtra and West Bengal experience wildlife losses through their ports, with 30% of the DRI seizures in 2024 destined for overseas markets.
Economic Hardship and Local Participation
Economic hardship compels local populations to engage in poaching. In Jharkhand (recording 18 incidents), tribal communities resort to hunting for ₹5,000–10,000 per animal to make ends meet, as reported by the MHA.
In 2023, 60% of those arrested for poaching were from marginalized communities.
The urban demand for pets in cities like Delhi (5 incidents) and Bangalore (part of Karnataka’s 19 incidents) exacerbates smuggling, with 500 parrots confiscated in 2024.
Ineffective Enforcement and Underreporting
Only 15% of wildlife crime cases result in convictions, according to the NCRB 2023.
Understaffed forest departments (for instance, UP has one guard for every 50 square kilometers) find it challenging to conduct patrols.
The WCCB estimates that 30–40% of incidents remain unreported, as villagers are apprehensive about potential retaliation.
States such as Tripura (with 3 incidents) lack specialized wildlife units, which hampers detection efforts.
Are These Numbers Trustworthy?
The estimate of 372 incidents is based on WCCB’s data from 2024, which recorded 354 cases, and anticipates a 5% increase for 2025, influenced by DRI’s rise in seizures and NCORD’s monitoring applications such as HAWK.
The figures may be distorted due to underreporting (30–40%) and differences in state efficiency (for instance, the active patrols in Rajasthan).
The complete data for 2025, expected to be released in 2026, may revise the totals by ±15%.
How Can India Respond Effectively?
India must implement more robust measures. The WCCB’s HAWK application, which was utilized in 2024 to monitor 20% of cases, should be extended to additional states like Jharkhand.
Increasing the number of forest guards (India requires an additional 10,000) would be beneficial.
Public awareness initiatives, such as Assam’s 2024 campaign for rhino protection that reached 25% of the local population, can help reduce demand.
Stricter border inspections in Mizoram and port scans in Maharashtra could prevent smuggling activities. International collaboration through CITES (with targets set for 2025) would help mitigate global trade.
Source
- Directorate of Revenue Intelligence. (2023). Annual report 2022-23: Wildlife and narcotics seizures. Ministry of Finance, Government of India.
- National Crime Records Bureau. (2023). Crime in India 2023. Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India.
