The Maharashtra state government has approved the creation of the Maharashtra State Wildlife Crime Control Cell to effectively combat wildlife crimes such as poaching, illegal hunting, and wildlife trade. The proposal was greenlit by the standing committee of the state wildlife board last month, recognizing the increasing organization and complexity of these crimes despite improvements in wildlife protection and population growth in the state. Headquartered in Nagpur, the Cell will be staffed by a team including a Divisional Forest Officer, Assistant Conservator of Forests, Range Forest Officers, Foresters, and Forest Guards, primarily through redeployment. This specialized unit will handle serious cases that span multiple forest divisions and states, maintaining a database of offenses and offenders, tracking repeat violators, and supporting field staff with legal and technical inputs. The Cell will also collaborate with agencies such as the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau and TRAFFIC, employing advanced software for monitoring and enforcement. Dr. Anish Andheria, president of the Wildlife Conservation Trust, emphasized that the Cell will enhance enforcement through intelligence-led action.