Rescued reptiles sent to Gujarat
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, December 06 2022:
Dozens of exotic reptiles rescued by Central Forest Division from the possession of a non-local on November 11 last have been sent to Green Zoolo-gical, Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre, Jamnagar, Gujarat with the assistance of People for Animals (PFA), Manipur, said a statement issued by PFA, Manipur, today.
As per PFA, the reptiles which have been sent to Gujarat for rehabilitation include Iguana (70), Tegu (8) and Mangrove Snake (6) .
It said that the reptiles, during the time of rescue, were handed over to the officials of Customs at Imphal as they being exotic weren't covered under Wildlife Protection Act, following which Customs officials produced the reptiles before the Court of JMFC, Imphal East.
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After granting bail, the Court ruled that the rescued reptiles must be kept under the custody of State Zoological Garden at Iroisemba for three days, it said and added that the reptiles were handed over to them (PFA) on the fourth day (i.e after the expiry of the three day period) by the SP of the Imphal unit of Customs.
Saying that the rescued reptiles were kept under their custody for certain weeks by consulting with a Kolkata based reptile expert Anirban Chaudhuri , PFA, Manipur continued that some of the reptiles, unfortunately, died due to non-availability of feed and other factors.
PFA went on to state that they informed about the developing situation (death of reptiles) to their National chairperson Maneka Sanjay Gandhi, following which the latter requested the Central Zoo Authority of India (CZA) to find a proper place for the rehabilitation of the reptiles.
After consultation with the Ministry concerned and CZA, approval was given to keep the rescued reptiles at Green Zoological, Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre to the Chief Wildlife Warden of Manipur by Maneka Gandhi, it added.
Further stating that a team of veterinary doctors and reptile curators from Gujarat came to their (PFA) animal shelter at Thoubal last Saturday and started examinations of the reptiles, the statement continued that the rescued reptiles were taken to Gujarat yesterday.