Plea to prevent caging of leopards, tigers

Heritage Animal Task Force has sent a memorandum to the Member-Secretary, Central Zoo Authority, against the decision of the Forest Minister to cage the tigers and leopards from Wayanad area to Thirssur Zoo.

Task Force secretary V K Venkitachalam pointed out that the Minister for Forests and Wildlife in Kerala had given orders to the Chief Wildlife Warden to cage all the tigers and leopards which enter into human settlement areas in Wayanad forest area and also directed to house them in the Thrissur Zoo.

 “The Minister does not have the authority to order for caging any heritage wild animals such as tiger or leopard. In many parts of Kerala wild animals enter into human settlements mainly due to the occupation of inner parts of core areas of forests by forest mafia,” he said.

The Minister’s decision to cage in the leopards and tigers must be seen as an effort by the forest mafia to continue their predominance in the forest areas of Kerala.

He urged the Central Zoo Authority to issue orders to prevent such illegal activities.

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