PM concerned over Indian wildlife items' sale in China

Concerned over reports of sale of Indian wildlife articles like tiger and leopard skins in China and Nepal, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday directed that the issue be taken up with the authorities in the two countries through diplomatic channels.

The prime minister has also directed that a detailed proposal for a National Wildlife Crime Control Bureau be placed before the Union cabinet by the third week of October.

It has been decided that the environment and forest ministry would immediately organise training of the staff of the Indo-Tibetan border police, the Sashakta Suraksha Bal, the border security force and customs, who man the routes along the northern border which open into China and Nepal, for detection of cross border trade in wildlife articles, prime minister's media advisor Sanjaya Barua stated in New Delhi.

Environment Minister A Raja is expected to soon visit China where he will personally take up the issue with the Chinese authorities and request them to act urgently on the matter, Barua said.