Latest news with #StateBoardforWildlife
The Hindu
18-06-2025
- The Hindu
Preferential treatment raises eyebrows
The Kerala Forest Department's recent move to approach the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change for a one-time amnesty for people possessing wildlife trophy in the State has reignited a debate over the department's alleged preferential treatment of wildlife offenders. The department has pushed a proposal for 'granting another chance to declare wild animal articles and trophies under Section 40 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972'. The justification for moving the proposal to the State Board for Wildlife was to offer an opportunity for the legal heirs of those who inherited wildlife trophy from their ancestors with valid ownership certificates. Senior officials noted that there had been several instances of the legal heirs failing to get the inherited wildlife trophy declared in their names on time for various reasons. Section 40 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, prescribes 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 30 days from the commencement of the Act.' Illegal possession of a wildlife trophy can result in imprisonment for three to seven years and a fine of not less than ₹25,000. Although forest officials argued that the beneficiaries of the proposed scheme would be legal heirs of those with the rightful ownership certificates — and that the Union government should take a call on the request — the move brought back to discussion the conflicting stands taken by the department in the case of actor Mohanlal and popular Malayalam rapper Vedan (V. M. Hiran Das), both booked for illegal possession of wildlife trophy. Officials asserted that the proposal had nothing to do with any of the wildlife crime cases currently being pursued in courts, but this has set tongues wagging. When the department took a benevolent approach to Mohanlal, who was reportedly found in possession of two pairs of ivory fixed on a mirror stand a few years ago, it went tough on Vedan, who was found wearing a chain with a pendant allegedly made from a leopard tooth. While it took an Income Tax Department raid for the department to know about the actor's alleged possession of ivory, a criminal case was booked by police for alleged possession of ganja, paving the way for the action against Vedan. The department wasted no time in arresting the rapper, whereas it reportedly handled the case of Mohanlal with kid gloves. Vedan told officials that the leopard tooth was a gift from an admirer and that he was unaware of the legal intricacies. Incidentally, both cases were booked at the Malayattoor Forest Range office and registered at the Judicial First Class Magistrate Court, Perumbavoor. The department chose not to remove the mirror studded with two sets of fully developed ivory to its strongroom or the State Treasury, where the material objects involved in court cases are stored. Though not illegal to leave the material objects, which are difficult to transport, with the accused after completing the legal formalities, questions on possible destruction of evidence by the accused were raised in this case. The alleged haste with which the department acted in Vedan's case received widespread condemnation from the public and those who had earlier led the State Forest Department. There was criticism that the department chose to ignore the alleged use of similar pendants by two other Malayalam movie actors, including a Union Minister. Urgent need 'Great injustice to Vedan. Nobody can be duped by a fake elephant tusk. But anybody can get confused with a tiger/leopard tooth with that of another similar animal. What a shame, especially considering the fact that the much-discussed elephant tusk case was also dealt with in the same Forest Range Office,' noted Gopinath Vallilil, a former Head of Forest Force, Kerala, in his social media account. Preferential treatment for the mighty would undermine the foundation of the rule of law and public trust in the system. The discriminatory treatment meted out to the two accused in the wildlife crime cases calls for balanced handling of the cases to earn and consolidate public trust and fair dispensation of justice.
Time of India
17-06-2025
- Health
- Time of India
‘Chera' no more common, set for official honour as state's reptile
Kochi: The ubiquitous 'chera' (Indian rat snake) is set for a promotion. The State Board for Wildlife, chaired by the chief minister, will consider the forest department's proposal on Wednesday to declare it as the state's official reptile in view of its ecological importance. The rat snake, Ptyas mucosa, is a non-venomous snake that plays a key role in controlling the population of rats. As a carnivore, it also consumes young venomous snakes. Known as a "friend of farmers", it has great conservation importance, reads the proposal for the board meeting. "We have an official state animal, state bird, state fish, butterfly, tree and so on, but we don't have an official reptile. That's why we proposed the rat snake. It will give more conservation value to that species, which in reality plays a high ecological value. Human habitations are its habitat, not forests," a forest official said. Biologist Sandeep Das said common people know that the rat snake is not dangerous and is, in fact, helpful to them. "It is actually a misconception that snakes are dangerous to humans. They control the rat population, which itself is caused by our mismanagement of waste disposal. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like One of the Most Successful Investors of All Time, Warren Buffett, Recommends: 5 Books for Turning... Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Click Here Undo They bite people for defence when they feel threatened," he said. "Kerala witnesses nearly 200 snake bite incidents per day, but casualties are very few as we have better access to antivenom treatment. Despite this, some people resort to unscientific treatment for poisoning, which eventually results in deaths," he said, adding that the SARPA (Snake awareness, rescue and protection) app of the forest department plays a big role in creating awareness about conserving snakes. Kerala reported 71 snake bite deaths in 2019-20, which came down to 34 in 2023-24. India has around 350 species of snakes, and Kerala around 130. Of these, only 30 are venomous. Most casualties happen from the bites of the Big Four - spectacled cobra, common krait, Russell's viper and saw-scaled viper. Das said the bite of the hump-nosed pit viper also caused casualties. Surendran Karingad of Kozhikode, who has been rescuing snakes for over 20 years, said people should learn from reptiles to survive in adverse circumstances. "During the 2018 flood, I received calls to rescue snakes from houses or vehicles, but in the flood next year, most calls were to rescue snakes coiled around branches on top of trees. They somehow learned that they need to take shelter on top of trees to survive floods. I have also come across snakes holding their breath for 40 minutes to one hour in water bodies," he said. Surendran felt the population of chera had come down. "One can distinguish it from its body; its head is smaller than its body. There are black, yellow and green cheras, the colour they adapt to survive in their habitat. It is true that people killing snakes has come down. People get frightened when they notice a snake inside their house, and they call us immediately. I receive around 40 calls per month," he said. On getting a call, he would ask for details of the snake spotted. "We can find out if the snake is venomous if they describe the features. If it is venomous, we go there and rescue it. Otherwise, we ask the family to drive it out of the house," he said. The 15-member wildlife board, comprising forest officials, representatives of institutions like Zoological Survey of India, NGOs, experts and environmentalists, will also consider a proposal to rechristen the Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary as Aralam Butterfly Sanctuary on its 25th anniversary. The renaming is proposed considering its role as a major host of migrating Albatross butterflies every year.
The Hindu
16-06-2025
- The Hindu
Kerala may soon have a butterfly sanctuary
Kerala hopes to dedicate a wildlife sanctuary to butterflies. The State Board for Wildlife, which is likely to meet this week, would consider a proposal from the State Forest Department to rename the Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary as Aralam Butterfly Sanctuary. If approved, this would be the first sanctuary dedicated to the winged insects. The State has a sanctuary dedicated to Pea Fowl, the Choolannur Pea Fowl Sanctuary in Palakkad, and one for Neelakurinji, the Kurinjimala Sanctuary. Thettekad and Mangalavanam are the other two bird sanctuaries of the State. The natural environment of the Aralam sanctuary sets the stage for the annual mass migration of the Common Albatross butterflies. The migration of butterflies, which begins around the last week of December, continues up to February. Hundreds of butterflies migrate from the higher reaches of the sanctuary to the plains, following streams and rivers. The migration typically begins around 10 a.m. and continus till 3 p.m. on all days during the period. The highest concentration of butterflies was recorded this year at Ramachithodu, emanating from Ramachifalls, with over 5,000 Common Albatross butterflies counted within a five-minute span, said Muhamed Jafer Palot, a wildlife expert of the Zoological Survey of India. Butterfly enthusiasts have been tracking the mass migration of the species for the last 25 years. Volunteers located at strategic vantage points count the butterflies. It's estimated that around four lakh butterflies have thus hit the migration route this year, he said. Besides the Albatross species, the migration of mixed Danaine species has also been recorded from the sanctuary, according to the Forest department. Surveys had earlier recorded the presence of 81% of butterflies found in the State in the sanctuary. Of the 327 species of butterflies recorded in Kerala, 266 species have been documented within 55 sq km of the Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary. Among them, 27 species are endemic to the Western Ghats with six species listed under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, according to a document prepared by the department. The department hopes to recognise the exceptional butterfly diversity and the unique Albatross migration event by renaming the Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary as Aralam Butterfly Sanctuary. The renaming would also honour the efforts to protect the unique butterfly species and habitats apart from promoting butterfly-based niche ecotourism activities that would also benefit the local communities, according to the document.
The Hindu
15-06-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Indian Rat Snake vying for official reptile of Kerala status
Indian Rat Snake (Ptyas mucosa), regionally known as Chera, may be notified as the Official Reptile of Kerala. The State Board for Wildlife, which will meet next week, will consider a proposal for notifying the snake, also known as Manja Chera and Karinchera as the official reptile. Only 25% of all snakes are poisonous, and it's important to protect them, say snake lovers The non-venomous snake, which has been included in Schedule One of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, has been accorded the highest legal protection. The species, which is commonly found in human habitations, plays a major role in controlling the rodent population that damages agricultural crops including grains and tubers in fields and farmlands that spread infectious diseases. Rat Snakes, which are carnivorous, also consume the hatchlings of venomous and dangerous snakes, such as cobras, according to the proposal for notification. Rat snakes, also known as friends of farmers, have great conservation value and shall be protected by declaring it as the State Reptile. The species is found in most parts of the country including Andaman Island. Also read | How to make space for snakes The campaign also highlighted the aspect that most deaths in human-wildlife conflicts were owing to snake bites. The Forest Department has been utilising the service of trained and certified volunteers for handling snakes and has popularised a mobile application SARPA to prevent incidents of snakebite. Though the species has been categorised as a species of Least Concern in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species owing to its wide geographic range and relatively large population, 'it is heavily exploited for various uses throughout its range and has experienced high rates of decline in parts of its range.' The species may be threatened by overexploitation for food, skins, and medicinal purposes, as it is heavily traded and used throughout its range and is considered to have undergone significant population decline. 'The global population trend of the species is decreasing,' noted the assessment report. The snake is found in diverse habitats, including forests, forest clearings and edges, open tropical dry forests, savannas, scrublands, plantations, villages and cultivated areas. 'It feeds on rodents, but also eats birds, lizards, frogs and other snakes. It lays several clutches per year of up to 18 eggs,' according to the assessment report. The large-bodied snake, which is commonly found near human habitation, is consumed locally in parts of its range, especially in northeastern Thailand, Lao PDR, Cambodia, and Vietnam. It is also sold alive in markets and used in the snake wine industry in Vietnam and traded for food, skins, and medicinal purposes in Indonesia, according to the Red List.
The Hindu
13-06-2025
- The Hindu
Kerala to seek amnesty scheme for declaring wildlife trophy
Kerala would approach the Union government to provide another chance for people to declare wild animal articles and trophy in their custody. 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.
