The Bengal Forest Minister, Ananta Ray, has put forth a proposal to sterilize leopards, rhinos, and elephants and/or sell them to zoos and private collectors. This is against the law in India.
SOURCE:
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/environment/flora-fauna/West-Bengal-minister-wants-to-auction-wild-animals/articleshow/7512342.cms
He feels Bengal has “too many” leopards, elephants and rhinos and they could be sold to private owners — the highest bidders, as it were. They might even be exported to foreign zoos or sterilized to make sure they don’t breed further, the minister said. These strange proposals, described as “absurd and illegal” by wildlife experts, were mooted by Ray at a press meet on Monday. The forest department will soon write to the Union forest and environment ministry to seek permission, Ray said.
“No animal is ‘in excess’ in any Indian forest. Wildlife rules strictly forbid the transfer of animals from the wild to captivity, be it a zoo in India or abroad. The plan to sell animals to private individuals is not only strange but quite crazy as well,” said Bittu Sahgal, wildlife activist and writer
.
We ask the environment ministry to please uphold basic wildlife protection rules.
Mr. Hem Kumar PANDE
Ministry of Environment and Forests
Paryavaran Bhawan CGO Complex Lodhi Road
New Delhi, Delhi - 110003
India
Tel: 011 24 36 2551
Fax: 011 24 36 0894
EMail: hempande@nic.in
The Bengal Forest Minister, Ananta Ray, has put forth a proposal to sterilize leopards, rhinos, and elephants and/or sell them to zoos and private collectors. This is against the law in India.
SOURCE:
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/environment/flora-fauna/West-Bengal-minister-wants-to-auction-wild-animals/articleshow/7512342.cms
He feels Bengal has “too many” leopards, elephants and rhinos and they could be sold to private owners — the highest bidders, as it were. They might even be exported to foreign zoos or sterilized to make sure they don’t breed further, the minister said. These strange proposals, described as “absurd and illegal” by wildlife experts, were mooted by Ray at a press meet on Monday. The forest department will soon write to the Union forest and environment ministry to seek permission, Ray said.
“No animal is ‘in excess’ in any Indian forest. Wildlife rules strictly forbid the transfer of animals from the wild to captivity, be it a zoo in India or abroad. The plan to sell animals to private individuals is not only strange but quite crazy as well,” said Bittu Sahgal, wildlife activist and writer.
We ask the environment ministry to please uphold basic wildlife protection rules.
