Wildlife activists on Tuesday demanded action against an ashram in Gokul-Mahavan for keeping 400 blackbucks and an elephant captive in violation of the Wildlife Protection Act.
On April 18, Naresh Kadyan, Representative of OIPA (International Organization for Animal Protection) in India, Master Trainer, AWBI (Animal Welfare Board of India) and Member of the Emergency Relief Network, Wildlife Trust of India, visited Karshini Ashram and found the blackbucks, which are Schedule I animals under the wildlife act.
Talking to IANS, Kadyan said the Central Zoo Authority (CZA) of India has never recognised the private zoo "under section 38-H of the act, which violated section 39 of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 read with the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 sections 3 and 11 because visitors offer food in unlimited quantity, which can harm the animals."
Kadyan, along with other activists, has demanded immediate legal action against all offenders "after rescuing all animals, including a female elephant in chains. An elephant died sometime ago."
The ashram had been requested to comply with the regulations but "the management paid no heed. Hence, all trustees of the Karshini Ashram in the Raman Reti area, including the manager along with the local wildlife officials are responsible for breaking the law and criminal conspiracy against the wild animals.
Kadyan said all the animals are kept within the boundary wall on the ashram premises with the consent of the wildlife officials.
Hence, the CZA, Wildlife Crime Control Bureau along with Animal Welfare Board of India and Animal Welfare Division, should take legal action to rescue the blackbucks and the elephant.
Interestingly, all these animals have not been declared to be in possession of the ashram, as required under law.
The chief wildlife warden of UP was not available for comment.
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