Endangered animal rescued
Source: The Sangai Express
Kakching, October 07 2018:
A combine team of the staff of Kakching Range led by W Ramchandra Singh, Honorary Wildlife Warden, Thoubal rescued a rare and endanger animal Keijenglang (Scientific name - Felis bengalansis) covered under Schedule I of Wildlife Protection Act after a rescue operation at Sora MamangLeikai.
Acting on an information that the endanger animal is illegally held captive by Md Tamijur Rehman of Sora Mamang Leikai, the team of Kakching Range official staff and W Ramchandra rushed to the home of the captor and was rescued.
Regarding the rescue operation, N Munal Meitei, Range Forest Officer, Kakching said that Keijenglang, which belong to cat family, is widely available in earlier times but is now on the verge of extinction.
As such, effort has been put in full swing to save the rare animal by including it under Schedule I of Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.He also appealed the poachers to abide by the animal law and stop killing animals.
He continued that proper investigation and verification should be performed before issuing license gun.
He also cautioned to those bird catchers that catching endanger bird is punishable under Wildlife Protection Act with a jail term of 3 years or a fine Rs 25,000 or both.
The Keijenglang (Leopard Cat) was later handed over to Manipur Zoological Garden as the health condition of the animal got worsened.