Gujarat-bound rescued reptiles seized in Assam
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, December 06 2022:
In an interesting turn of event, forest officials of Assam on Tuesday intercepted a team of veterinary doctors and reptile curators from Gujarat and seized 84 exotic reptile animals of three species on their way from Imphal to Gujarat after they were rescued by forest officials in Imphal last month.
The exotic animals, rescued from a smuggler on November 11 in Imphal, were on their way to Gujarat for relocation with active involvement of People for Animal, Manipur unit, Central Zoo Authority of India, PFA national chairperson MP Maneka Gandhi, Manipur forest department and customs Manipur.
They were taken to Gujarat in vehicles as they could not risk leaving them unattended for long hours on flight, according to a press statement issued by PFA Manipur on Tuesday.
However, according to a report published in The Assam Tribune, the reptiles of three different species were rescued from forest department vehicles in Assam's Jorabat on Tuesday.
They were given permission to take the reptiles to Gujarat from Border Customs Department of Imphal and Chief Conservator of Forest of Manipur.
The forest department is thoroughly checking the documents before releasing the animals as the authorities have conducted a probe into the matter.
However, the forest department seized the reptiles and took them to Assam State Zoo in Guwahati, the Assam Tribune report added.
Earlier Tuesday, 80-plus young exotic animals rescued by officials of central forest division last month were taken to Green Zoological, Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre, Jamnagar in Gujarat through People for Animal (PFA), Manipur.
According to a statement of PFA, the exotic animals including 70 Iguana, eight Tegu and six Mangrove Snakes, whose monetary is worth around Rs 1.4 lakh, were rescued by central forest division, Manipur from one Dayanand MJ, who smuggled the animals to Imphal, on November 11.The animals fall under exotic animal category since they are native to America, Argentina, Indonesia and Malaysia, and not found in the country.
As they do not come under the purview of Wildlife Protection Act, the smuggler was handed over to the customs.
On the same day, inspector P Kevin of Customs anti-smuggling unit produced the accused before JMIC Imphal East court.
The court granted bail to the accused and directed the officials to keep the animals at Manipur Zoological Garden, Iroisemba for three days.
On the fourth day, the SP Customs handed over the animals to PFA.
PFA consulted Kolkata-based reptile expert Anirban Chaudhuri for taking care of the animals but some of them died due to their tender age, winter cold and lack of suitable food.
As Mangrove Snakes are warm weather reptiles and hunt their prey by climbing trees, PFA arranged frogs and quail eggs from Ukhrul but they did feed on them properly.
Moreover, PFA volunteers fed chopped chicken meat, eggs and dog feeds to the Tegus but they also do not eat properly.
As a last resort, PFA acquired grasshoppers from Nagaland and fed them.
Though the Iguana eats carrot, mustard and water spinach, some of them died of stampede due to their large numbers, the statement informed.
As the number of dead animals rose, PFA requested its national chairperson MP Maneka Gandhi to provide a suitable location for the animals.
The MP contacted Central Zoo Authority of India (CZAI) and the latter gave instruction to the chief wildlife warden of Manipur for sending the animals to the Jamnagar facility.
Consequently, Maneka Gandhi conveyed the same message to PFA Manipur.
A seven-member team of the Centre, which included veterinary doctors and reptile curator arrived in Thoubal and treated the animals for a couple of days at the animal shelters of PFA.
They were taken to Gujarat after their health condition improved.
As they could not risk leaving the animals out of their sight by taking flights, the team left for Gujarat in five hired vehicles, the statement informed.
It further informed that the animal transportation initiative was taken up with active support from customs, veterinary department, forest department, Central Zoo Authority of India and MP Maneka Gandhi.
It also shows how the people of the state care for nature and its wild animals, the statement added.
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