Wildlife offenders spreading the net in Ernakulam district

After attempting to trap barn owls, star turtles and sand boas, some are after the slender loris, a nocturnal animal.Two men were arrested here last week for attempting to sell a pair of slender loris. The animal, which is found mostly in South India and Sri Lanka, has been classified as an endangered one. The loris has also been protected by including it in the Sch edule 1 of the Indian Wildlife Act, according to Wildlife authorities.The authorities had also raided the clinic of a local Ayurveda practitioner at Pattimattom following information that the animals were being trapped for his use.

The animal, which has been kept at the Animal Rescue Centre, Kodanad, died the other day at the centre.“The exact reason for the death could be ascertained only after obtaining the post-mortem report. The animal might have failed to accustom itself to the new habitat,” said P. Biju, Forest Range Officer, Kodanad. While the authorities nabbed those involved in the slender loris case, they could not claim much success regarding the sale of dolphin meat near Vypeen.Though the authorities received reports that dolphin meat was being sold at a market near Vypeen, they could not seize the meat samples or track the offenders.Dolphins are also included in Schedule 1 of the Act and even the possession of its meat will land one in trouble. The Wildlife authorities had earlier organised an awareness campaign in the State following reports of the animals being killed and sold for meat.
Awareness driveMarine researchers are of the view that there is no targeted fishing for the species in the Kerala waters. There are instances of the animals being netted accidentally and there is the possibility of fishermen selling them in the market without realising the risk involved, researchers said.

The Wildlife authorities are planning to undertake an awareness programme in the coastal belt of the district for sensitising the people, especially fishermen, to the need for protecting the species, Mr. Biju said.Meanwhile, the authorities took into custody a barn owl that was spotted in a city hotel. The bird was later brought to the Rescue Centre. The Forest Department had recently carried out a campaign against the smuggling of owls too.

The Hindu, 17th October 2009