Forest Dept to check credentials of wildlife NGOs

Earlier this month,a group of wildlife activists circulated a CD showing wild animals and birds in pitiable condition at a rescue centre run by Gujarat Society for Prevention of Cruelty against Animals (GSPCA) member Snehal Bhavsar.

On Tuesday,Bhavsar circulated a CD exposing members of the Crocodile Group and Canine Group. The footage showed the volunteers riding on a crocodile and a number of people,including family members of the volunteers and forest officers posing with the reptile.

G A Brahmbhatt,District Forest Officer,Vadodara,told The Indian Express: “It is sad that those involved in voluntary animal welfare,who are working for the conservation and protection of wildlife,are being shown in poor light. We have decided to verify the credentials of all the organisations involved in wildlife rescue activities. We will also check the permissions they have obtained and when they were obtained. If required,we will cancel them after due formality.”

Bhavsar added: “We sent the photographs with all the evidence to senior forest officers,but till date,no action has been taken against the accused. One of the senior forest officers who recently retired said he will not do anything as the matter is ‘political’. It is after representation at all levels that we decided to inform the media.”

Incidentally,the Forest Department has never conducted any raid on any of the ‘so-called’ rescue centres run by wildlife activists. The Department does not even have information furnished by the activists about the number of wild animals,including the scheduled ones that have been rescued and released; and despite having sufficient space to keep the rescued animals,they are kept at the residences of the animal activists.

VMC threatens to sue activist

EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE

The Vadodara Municipal Corporation has sent a notice to Snehal Bhavsar to withdraw the allegations about the poor treatment of zoo animals,failing which the civic body will file defamation suit of Rs 5 crore.

The civic body sent the notice to Bhavsar on Monday,giving her 15 days for withdrawing the allegations.

The notice by VMC Zoo Curator C B Patel accuses Bhavsar and other GSPCA members of illegally entering the deer enclosure on June 8 and forcing an ill sambhar to walk for the sake of photography. On June 10,the activists stole the bones of the deceased animal without permission. Besides,Bhavsar has used vulgar language in a letter addressed to the Municipal Commissioner. Hurdles were also created during the inauguration of the Vishwamitry Riverfront Project,the notice says.

It further said that the animal activists has attempted to defame the civic body,which is an offence under sections 499 and 500 of the IPC. The notice said that all allegations made against the zoo should be withdrawn and a public apology tendered through media. Bhavsar has also been warned against indulging in such activities in the future.