Rare animals seized

By Our Staff Reporter

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, JUNE 15. A vigilance squad of the Forest Department today seized a live Slender Loris, an endangered species, and the dried skins of several other animals from an itinerant wayside vendor in the city.

The dried skins included those of a jackal, wild rabbit, mangoose, Indian civet, bat and the Nilgiri Langur, another endangered animal. Acting on a tip-off from an animal rights organisation, the Flying Squad team led by the Range Officer, Mr. Sreekumar, swooped down on the vendor who was peddling his ware at a location at Attakulangara and arrested him. A second vendor fled the scene on seeing the officials in uniform.

According to Forest officials, the hair from the body of the Slender Loris was being used to prepare talismans claimed to possess magical powers. The animal was found caged. Two partially stuffed Slender Loris were also found in his possession.

The officials said the dried animal skins were bought by customers for stuffing. The vendor, Bhaskar, 60, who hails from Theni in Tamil Nadu was handed over to the local Range Office. Forest officials said he would be booked under the provisions of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. They said possession of endangered animals like the Slender Loris and Nilgiri langur were punishable under the Act.

The Flying Squad DFO, Mr. P.K. Rajan, said the seized animals would be housed either in the Thiruvananthapuram zoo or the one run by the Forest Department at Kodanad. He said the Slender Loris could not be released into the wild since it may not have the capacity to adjust to the natural habitat.

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Section  : Southern States
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