Free Mathura ashram deers/black bucks:  Wildlife activists

 

 

Mathura DECEMBER 3, 2014

Wildlife activists Tuesday demanded action against an ashram in Gokul-Mahavan for keeping more than 250 blackbucks in violation of the Wildlife Protection Act. The ivory of the elephant who died in the captivity at the ashram is also missing.

Naresh Kadian, 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 TOI. 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."

Kadian, 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.

Kadian 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.
In their memorandum sent to the central environment ministry, the volunteers have said there were  13 scheduled wild animals trophies  with the Ramanreti based Ashram,  "without ownership, where as CWLW of UP failed to ask them the source of availability of these trophies, skins along with the purpose of custody. It would be pertinent to mention here that if black buck died in their custody then how and why they have skinned the wild animal bodies, with out any authority." "They asked when and how the elephant died in their custody and where are his tusks."

The volunteers want immediate rescue and rehabilitation of the black bucks and wild life officials involved in sheltering the guilty be investigated under the Act. .

Naresh Kadian said the wild animals and trophies are in illegal custody and the Mathura police had failed to perform its duty. Giving details he said " Black buck skin: 1 to 6. Tiger skin: 1 to 5. Cheetah skin: 1 Shahtush shawl: 1 Black buck male: 122. Black buck female: 157. Black buck calves: 4. The said scheduled wild animals trophies along with the Black buck are in the illegal custody of the Udasin Karshni Ashram Trust at Mahavan (Old Gokul), Mathura in Utter Pardesh, where as male elephant was died on 24-2-2010 but the tusk of this male elephant was not recovered, female elephant tied with chain, where as Central Zoo Authority refused to recognize as zoo, in fact it was a contempt of Hon'ble Supreme Court of India, as intimated by the CZA letter dated 10-1-2001."

chief conservator of forests and wild life, Agra division PK Sharma told TOI "yes Naresh Kadian brought this to my notice. I am aware of the whole situation. Investigations are going on and we will do the needful."

 

Kadian said he had originally complained to the central ministry of environment and forests on October 17, 2013, thereafter brought it to the notice of the Animal Welfare Board and the Central Zoo Authority. "The passing the buck game is continuing. So far no action has followed from any department. They all admit but are scared of taking any action."