leopards that have been tagged as man-eaters are now kept at the department’s wildlife transit and rehabilitation centre in Chidiyapur, Haridwar forest division. These six leopards were captured by the forest department. They have been confined to cramped conditions here for about five years in one case, instead of being handed over to zoos in accordance with the Central Zoo Rules.
Citing anomalies in various tasks of the centre, the inspection report of the centre authorised by the Animal Welfare Board of India, recommended that the Chidiyapur centre should be handed over to the Wildlife Institute of India without delay in addition to other measures recommended for improving the centre’s condition.
On April 15 this year the AWBI had authorised its member NG Jayasimha and co-opted member Gauri Maulekhi to conduct an inspection of the Chidiyapur centre to check and assess the status of housing, upkeep and maintenance while checking any incidences of cruelty, violation of Central and State animal protection laws in respect of the unauthorised wild animal facility run at Chidiyapur in Haridwar. The inspection report submitted to AWBI on September 14 presents a dismal state of affairs with leopards under protracted torture of confinement in violation of the laws, improper documentation, absence of trained and qualified staff and varied other irregularities. The report observed at the same facility, that a monkey sterilization centre was also run from time to time. There were no monkeys there on the day of the inspection, but documents obtained under RTI Act reveal lapses on the part of the authorities on which a detailed report may be submitted later this week, stated Jayasimha.
The report points out that since no officials or documents were available at the centre on the date of the visit, documents pertaining to the housing, upkeep and treatment of the inmates of the entre were obtained under the RTI Act for this report. Key observations state that leopards once captured, are kept at the centre permanently with six leopards at the centre presently.
Maximum time elapsed since capture — 62 months — was that of the male leopard tagged a ‘man-eater’ and captured from Garhwal forest division on May 15, 2011. Similarly, 55 months had elapsed since the capture of a male leopard declared ‘man-eater’ in December the same year from Nanda Devi national park. Twenty seven, 26, 16 months and 1 month have elapsed since the capture of the other leopards in the centre. “All leopards do not have access to open enclousures as there are only two such enclosures and six leopards, none of them compatible with each other. The reason of capture of all these six leopards is stated to have been their declaration as man-eating leopards. Rather than transferring these leopards to the zoo in accordance with the Central Zoo Rules, they are kept in inadequate and poor housing conditions at the centre. leopards were observed crammed in small rooms due to inadequacy of enclosures.
Improper record keeping with suspicion of some post mortem reports having been fraudulently made raises serious concerns about the mortality of animals accorded highest protection under the Wildlife Protection Act, while also alluding to foul play by the persons/officers in charge of the centre,” states the report, while also adding that the post mortem reports were not as per the standard operating procedure for leopard mortality as prescribed by the National Tiger Conservation Authority. Stating that the leopards observed were under stress, the report stated the centre was confining animals in contravention of sections of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960. “Creating false post mortem reports and absence of any documents regarding release of the leopards requires investigation to establish if any offence under the Indian Penal Code has been committed,” the report states.
It recommends that operation of the centre be immediately handed over to the Wildlife Institute of India for proper rehabilitation of the leopards. leopards that cannot be rehabilitated should be housed in cages as recommended by CZA. The centre must seek recognition from CZA and Supreme Court and adhere to the regulations for such recognition. The centre must not take in any more leopards till sufficient staff and enclosures have been created,” states the report while also stressing on the need for appointment of a full time director and full time veterinary officer for the animals in the centre.