Animal lovers to move NTCA, WCCB
LUCKNOW: It was a gruesome end for a big cat: hungry for two days, chased for about a kilometre by dozens and then shot dead inside a kitchen.
Small wonder animal lovers are fuming over the ill-fated leopard’s killing and those not so knowledgeable about wild life are also condemning the act. Activists also plan to move the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) and Wildlife Crime Control Board of India (WCCB) regarding the incident.
To recall, a leopard had strayed into Aashiana area and was trapped in a ground by the forest staff. The animal stayed in the area for two days as foresters failed to tranquilize it. On Saturday, it was shot dead by cops as it tried to escape. A probe was set up following the killing.
“The soul of the leopard must be asking what was its fault,” said Ammar Rizvi, senior Congress leader. “If an animal troubled by hunger and thirst comes to a human habitat, should the reward be death or some sympathy,” he asked.
“It is simply illegal killing of a Schedule1 protected animal by a police officer with impunity. The animal could have been tranquilized,”
said animal activist Kamna Pandey.
Videos of the panic and cops chasing the animal were made viral and posts about the incident were shared, condemning the act. “We need to set an example to those who think having a gun gives them the power to take lives. The life of Abhimanyu (name given to the dead leopard) was as important as mine, if not more,” said Dr Vishakha Shukla, an activist who holds a degree in ‘animal communication and behavioural training’ from the Royal College of London.
The leopard’s killing made the activists so angry that during a meeting on wetland conservation in Uttar Pradesh (which had senior forest officials too) Gaurav Prakash, co-chairman of the
State Chapter of PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry, was sent over 50 messages to announce from the podium that animal lovers were seeking an answer to the killing.
“People want an answer and wish to raise the issue in this meet, where senior forest officials are present . Hope we get the answer soon about the killing,” he said from the dais.
The irate animal activists have now decided to move the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) and Wildlife Crime Control Board of India (WCCB), giving details of the killing. Letters were written to these two national organisations on Monday. “The killed leopard was being traced and efforts were on to tranquilize it for two days. Yet
he was shot by a cop without permission. It would be relevant to mention that the leopard had not killed anyone,” said Pandey, former co-opted member of Animal Welfare Board of India.
She said the post mortem examination got over at 4 pm on the day the animal was killed but the report was made public the next day. Suspicions are being raised that time was allowed to pass purposely so that in case any points were challenged, another post mortem examination would not be of much use.
“Abhimanyu has paid the price for being an animal. The cop responsible should be removed from his post. Some people use guns for pleasure and their right to wield firearms should be taken away,” said Dr Shukla.