Friday, June 30, 2017

13 held for lurking in lion habitat

| Jun 20, 2017, 11.59 PM ISTAHMEDABAD: The forest department detained a veterinary doctor from Rajkot and two teachers along with 10 others who were illegally moving around the Gir forest and watching an illegal lion show in Junagadh district.

The 13 people were detained and each person were asked to Rs 2,000 each as penalty for the crime on Sunday night.

The forest officials are also looking at the possibility of involvement of the local people for arranging the lion show in Jamudivala beat of Devaliya Range.

A senior forest official said that the 13 people from Rajkot had stayed at a farm house and got the location of the lion from the local lower staff. This has raised the suspicion of involvement of a local staff or a local resident from the area.

On Sunday, the group was spotted and caught by the staff when they were moving around in the forest area, looking out for lions.

The officer said that it was possible that the group was returning after seeing the lion show.

The group was allowed to go after paying Rs 26,000 fine. Forest officials said such illegal activites are bound to increase now that the lion safari in Sasan Gir is closed for monsoon from June 15 to October 15. Chief conservator of forest, Junagadh (wildlife), AP Singh confirmed the crime and said that all the group members were educated people.

No comments: