Indo-US joint workshop in Sawai Madhopur

Jaipur, Nov 6: Tiger protection efforts at the famous Ranthambhore Tiger Project Area in Sawai Madhopur district in Rajasthan have evoked support from the US authorities.

Speaking at an inaugural session at the three-day workshop on Wildlife Crime Prevention and Enforcement in Sawai Madhopur on Sunday, Mr Peter Kaestner, Minister Counselor for Consular Affairs, US Embassy, emphasised the importance of coordination among all stakeholders working together towards a common goal of tiger protection.

Ms Claudia McMurray, Assistant Secretary for Bureau of Ocean and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, US State Department, highlighted the Coalition against Wildlife Trafficking (CAWT) which brought together governments and non-government organisations (NGOs) to foil the growing threats to wildlife from poaching and trafficking.

Both India and US are founder partners to CAWT, she said.

She praised tiger protection arrangements at Ranthambhore and stressed the need of urgency of moving quickly to protect the remaining tiger populations in jungles before it was too late.

Senior Embassy officials, Environmentalists and over 60 forests guards and police officials participated in the workshop to discuss challenges before them in wildlife conservation especialy India's threatened tiger population.

UNI