THREE YEARS IMPRISONMENT FOR IVORY POACHERS of Rajaji National Park

The Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate has awarded three years imprisonment and a fine of Rs.10000 to Mr. Jagdish, the main accused in the Elephant poaching and Ivory Trading case

POACHERS AWARDED SEVEN YEARS IMPRISONMENT

The Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, Alwar in Rajasthan has awarded seven years imprisonment to seven poachers and five years to one poacher in a tiger poaching case in Sariska Tiger Reserve which took place long back in 2002. The poachers convicted are Zahuru, Ramzan, Hazari, Darra, Fazru, Umardin, Sukka and Heera lal. The first two were also fined INR 1.5 lakh each and the next five were fined 80000 INR each and Heera, who got only 5 years imprisonment was also fined 30000 INR.
Though the justice has come after nearly nine years, there is still scope for the poachers to avoid jail by appealing before the Hon. District Court, then the Hon. High Court and finally the Hon. Supreme Court. Three other accused have already died. By the time the upper courts hear and finalise the judgements, it could be another 30 years!!! if the lower court took 9 years. By then there will be no officer from the prosecution who knows the case well and be able to present the case strongly.

MALE LEOPARD DEAD IN NOOSE TRAP

Leopard trapped in noose (file photo)

An adult male leopard was found dead in  a field in village Kanthgaon near Gurna in Pithoragarh. On post-mortem, it was found that the leopard was perfectly healthy but with severe blood clot in the lungs, heart and the juglar vein was also found cut. There was a small injury seen behind the shoulder where a few drops of blood was coming out. Probably the leopard escaped and was successful in breaking the noose trap, which is usually a simple clutch wire or any other wire kept as a noose. Once the leopard gets trapped, its tries to run away, during which the noose gets more and more tightened. In this process of struggle, severe internal haemorrage occurs and the leopard slowly loses its life in another few hours. This leopard seems to have broken the trap in the time being, but could not survive for long. One canine tooth was also found missing.

ANIMAL SACRIFICE IN RELIGIOUS PLACES ILLEGAL and not prescribed by any religion

Answer to question below

It is now clear that the practise of animal sacrifice in temples of Uttarakhand, India is ILLEGAL and an offence under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act. This clarity has come after the Department of Culture, Uttarakhand has clearly specified that no religious documents mention or prescribe animal sacrifice. The Section 28 of the above act omits killing of animals as prescribed by religion from being an offence under the act. In this context, an application under the Right to Information Act 2005 was sent to the Department of Culture. Though the Public Information Officer denied the information at the first instance, the Appellate officer, Ms.Bina Bhatt, in her reply to the applicant Mr.Manoj Chandran, resident of Lintyura, Pithoragarh, wide letter no. 236/sa.ni.u./do-95(X)/2011-12 dated 21/6/2011, made it clear that animal sacrifice is not mentioned in any religious document or any other order. ( jahan tak prashn mandiron me pashubali dene ka he, to yah kisi dharmik granth athva kisi shaasanadesh mein ullekh nahin hai )

Hence from now on, we can say that Sec 28 of the act will not be applicable to animal sacrifice in temples and hence would be an offence.
Kindly spread the message to all forest and veterinary officials and the district administration and all temple authorities so that the law can be upheld and no offence be committed from now on.

MUSK DEER RESCUED and hundreds of Satyr Tragopan sighted

A musk deer calf was rescued by a shepherd after its mother was killed by

451 live turtles seized at Bangkok airport

451 live turtles were seized from a baggage from a Bangladesh flight at Suvarnabhumi airport, Bangkok, Thailand. The offender managed to escape and did not collect the luggage. For details see http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2011/jun/02/thai-customs-turtles-suitcase-smuggled

Three leopard skins seized

Three leopard skins were seized by Uttarkashi Kotwali police today. Two of the skins were found to be of leopards poisoned by insecticide Nuvan and the other one was shot dead. The police arrested two persons Atar Singh s/o Shyam Singh Kathaith and Sohan Lal s/o Mangsiru Singh, both resident of Gram Bagedi, Tehsil Chilyani, dt. Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand, India.

Leopard cubs reunite with mother

In a detailed investigation of the resuced leopard cubs on 24th May and the leopard skin seized on 22nd May from very nearby places, a positive correlation was arrived on that the fresh skin which was seized on 22nd having three bullet holes belonged to the mother of the three male leopard cubs resuced. DNA samples of both mother and one of the cub which died on 1st June has been send for verification. The middlemen involved in the skin trade are absconding and is believed to have escaped to Nepal, while the suspected poacher having a licenced gun in the nearby village is yet to be arrested.

The leopard cubs were kept in strict supervision and diet. One leopard cub died on the 8th day after recovery. The other two recovered from dysentry and diarrhoea, flattulence, malnutrition, etc., but on the 18th day started showing symptoms of weakness and inability to walk properly. Probably the internal organs had started showing signs of degeneration. One of the cubs died yesterday afternoon and the other passed away after midnight, 20 days after rescue.

Two persons also had dreams of mother leopard roaming around to take away the cubs. We can now believe that the leopard cubs have finally united with their mother in heaven.

JUDGE DETAINS RANGE OFFICER for ARRESTING POACHER

The District Judge of Champawat District of Uttarakhand,  India, Mr.R.S.Chauhan, while in his judicial capacity allowing a bail appeal of a notorious poacher, also misused his office to