The forensic analysis report of the wildlife artefacts recovered from the residences of prominent personalities during raids last month are yet to arrive. Meanwhile, the senior forest officials are stressing for the establishment of a wildlife forensic laboratory in Bengaluru for a speedy process. Presently, the department sends the artefacts to the Dehradun-based Wildlife Institute of India (WII) to ascertain their authenticity. While discussions to establish a wildlife forensic laboratory in the state were on for a decade, in October, Environment Minister Eshwar Khandre said that the central government’s sanction to set up a wildlife forensic laboratory was taken by the state government. “The Forensic Science Laboratory here does not have the expertise in wildlife forensic analysis. So, all the exhibits collected, whether it is a fake or genuine, are sent to the Wildlife Institute of India for forensic examination. But for the preliminary investigation, to ascertain whether the artefacts are genuine or fake, we are competent enough. Some of our officers have done courses on that,” a senior forest official said. “I think that if we have a lab here, it would be good to check the authenticity of these artefacts here itself. It will be easier for us to book the violators immediately. It takes a lot of time for the lab reports to come from Dehradun,” he said. The official added, “WII expertise will be required to ascertain if the claw is of a Siberian tiger or an Indian one. Wildlife laws will not work there. But the argument is that at the preliminary stage itself, the artefacts are sent to WII to ascertain the authenticity when it can be verified here.” Based on the outcome of the forensic analysis, the officials investigate the matter and action is initiated against the violators under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, if they are found in possession of wildlife articles. In October, Varthur Santhosh, a contestant in the Bigg Boss reality show was arrested by the forest officials for wearing a locket made of tiger claw in October. Following his arrest, the department had received several complaints against Karnataka Rajya Sabha MP Jaggesh, JD(S) leader Nikhil Kumaraswamy (both actors-turned-politicians), actor Darshan and producer Rockline Venkatesh for wearing such pendants in violation of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. A team of Karnataka forest officials, last month visited the residence of Women and Child Development Minister Laxmi Hebbalkar to check if her son Mrinal Hebbalkar was wearing an alleged tiger claw pendant. Visuals of Mrinal wearing the pendant had gone viral on social media on Thursday after which the forest department issued him a notice.
