Chief wildlife warden examining Sidhu’s stuffed partridge case

CHANDIGARH: The Punjab chief wildlife warden is examining the matter pertaining to a stuffed black partridge brought by state local bodies minister Navjot Singh Sidhu from Pakistan, for initiating appropriate action.

The stuffed black partridge trophy was reportedly gifted to Sidhu by a Pakistani journalist when he had gone to attend the groundbreaking ceremony of the Kartarpur corridor last month. When Sidhu came back to India, he gifted the bird trophy to chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh who handed it over to the Punjab chief wildlife warden, asking if he could keep it or should it be given to be used for educational or wildlife awareness purposes.

Meanwhile, two animal activists lodged a complaint with the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau, seeking action against Sidhu for allegedly possessing stuffed black partridge in violation of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.

“We are examining the status of stuffed black partridge under the rules of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972,” Punjab chief wildlife warden Kuldeep Kumar said on Thursday.

“We are examining all circulars, guidelines and rules pertaining to it to reach any conclusion,” he said. Asked if his department would be checking any violation of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, Kumar said: “Naturally, we have to ensure that the law of the land with regard to wildlife protection is complied with.”

Asked if any explanation has been sought from the minister, Kumar said: “No such thing as of now. First, we will examine this matter.” Different species of the Indian black partridge are covered under Schedule 4 of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.