People taking selfies with wild animals to face arrest: Odisha government

The letter mentioned that taking photos or selfies with wild animals that come under schedules of the Wildlife Act disturbs their regular life cycle and posting such photos on social media amounts to violation of wildlife law

Published on: Mar 16, 2024, 13:47:52 IST

By Debabrata Mohanty

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Bhubaneshwar: The Odisha government on Friday warned of serious action leading to imprisonment for people taking photographs or selfies with scheduled wild animals such as elephants, tigers and others, and posting it on social media, urging people not to violate the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.

Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) and state chief wildlife warden Susanta Nanda in a letter to the divisional forest officers, deputy director, Similipal north/south (wildlife) and deputy director of the Nandankanan Zoo, said there have been reports of people taking photographs with scheduled wild animals and post those on social media.

The letter mentioned that taking photos or selfies with wild animals that come under schedules of the Wildlife Act disturbs their regular life cycle and posting such photos on social media amounts to violation of wildlife law.

“It not only disturbs the animals but also violates the provisions of Sections 9 and 2 (16) of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. Besides, pictures and selfies with dead wild animals or wild animal body parts are also being posted on social media platforms. It also amounts to a violation of sections 39 (I) (a), 39 (2) and (3) of the Act. As per the Act, such violation is liable to imprisonment for up to seven years,” the letter said.

Directing the forest officials to promote awareness among people to refrain from such activities, the PCCF said helpline numbers will be displayed at prominent places and on social media to facilitate sharing of information about violations of the Act.

“Everybody should abide by the laws, and those keen to click pictures should take permission from forest officials. Helpline numbers may be displayed at prominent places and on social media to facilitate the sharing of information from persons wanting to help the cause of wildlife. But unscrupulous elements trying to gain fame by violating the laws should be taken to task and you need to make them more famous by arresting and forwarding them to the court of law,” the state chief wildlife warden said.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Debabrata Mohanty
Debabrata Mohanty is a senior assistant editor of Hindustan Times who works as state correspondent from Odisha covering the state's politics, governance, public policy, natural disasters, environment and its society for close to three decades. With his long years of reporting from the state capital of Bhubaneswar, Mohanty has been known as one of the most experienced and credible journalists covering Odisha for the national English dailies. His reporting combines on-ground detail with deep institutional knowledge detailing the state's changing politics, governance issues, administrative reforms and the functioning of its public institutions. He has regularly reported on issues ranging from legislative developments and public policy implementation. Politics is his core areas of expertise as he closely tracks Odisha's political landscape, including the rise and transformation of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), the two principal political parties in Odisha. His long association with the state's political establishment enables him to write on contemporary developments in a larger political context. Mohanty takes a deep interest in writing human interest stories, environmental issues and documenting the impact of cyclones, floods, heatwaves, and other climate-related events in one of the most disaster-prone states. His coverage extends to public health, governance reforms and stories on accountability of government institutions. Before joining Hindustan Times, Mohanty worked with The Indian Express, Mail Today, and The Telegraph, where he covered at least six general elections and as many assembly elections. In 2007, he was selected for the prestigious Chevening Young Indian Print Journalist Programme at the University of Lincoln, United Kingdom, where he received advanced training in print journalism. In 2009 he won the Press Institute of India-International Committee of Red Cross award on conflict reporting for his on-ground reportage of 2008 Kandhamal riots.Read More

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