Kerala to seek amnesty scheme for declaring wildlife trophy
The last opportunity fixed by the Union government for individuals to declare the wildlife trophy in their possession had expired on October 18, 2003.
Section 40 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 mandates that 'every person having the control, custody or possession of any animal article, trophy or uncured trophy of captive animals specified in Schedule I shall declare to the Chief Wildlife Warden or the Authorised Officer within thirty days from the commencement of the Act.'
There have been several instances in the State where the legal heirs of people with valid ownership certificates of wild trophy could not get them declared in their names. Several of them have approached the department seeking one more opportunity for the declaration of such items, according to the State Forest department.
On conviction of the offence related to any animal specified in Schedule I or meat of any such animal or animal article, trophy or uncured trophy derived from such animal, the convict shall be awarded a jail term from three to seven years and a fine not less than ₹25,000.
Only those wildlife trophy inherited by the legal heirs of people with a valid ownership license issued by the Forest department will be eligible for the amnesty scheme, sources indicated.
The State Board for Wildlife will consider the proposal next week.
The power to provide the amnesty vests with the Union Ministry for Environment, Forest and Climate Change. The State board may request the Central government to take suitable action on the matter in real and genuine cases, sources said.
The issue of illegal possession of wildlife trophy had hit the headlines recently with the State Forest department taking popular rapper Vedan into custody after it was alleged that he wore a pendant made out of a tiger tooth in a chain.
Actor Mohanlal is fighting legal cases in the State after being booked for alleged illegal possession of two pairs of ivory. The alleged illegal possession surfaced following a raid by the Income Tax department at the Kochi residence of the actor. An appeal filed by the actor against the order of a trial court rejecting his discharge petition in the case is pending before the Kerala High Court.
Petitions challenging the reported inaction of the Forest department to book the actor for the alleged possession of 13 ivory idols and granting of owner certificate to the two sets of ivory are also pending before the High Court.
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