Right To Information (RTI) and Environmental activist Ajay Dubey in a letter to Chief Secretary of Madhya Pradesh Anthony DeSa and DIG - Member Secretary I/C of Central Zoo Authority (CZA), New Delhi Inder Dhamija demanded an inquiry into the death of white tiger Rajan at Kamla Nehru Prani Sangrahalaya Indore (KNPSI).
Dubey in his letter said, “I would like to draw your attention to the issue of death of white tiger Rajan in KNPSI due to snake bite on December 27. On the fateful day, the king cobra crept in the enclosure of white tiger and bit him to death that has caused irreparable loss to the efforts of tiger conservation.” Dubey further said that CZA ordered inquiry by appointing Director Centre for Wild life Forensic and Health Jabalpur AB Shrivastava and Veterinary Science University Jabalpur’s Nananji Deshmukh on January 12, but inquiry has not been started yet which may destroy the vital evidences of mismanagement in the issue.
He said I have come to know that KNPSI is seriously violating the rules relating to the recognition of zoo under the WP Act, 1972. The death of Rajan is the example of this because the full size King cobra crept in the enclosure of Rajan, which showed that the enclosure was not fully protected, he added. He said the KNPSI failed to comply the Rule 10, Sub-rule 21 WP Act, 1972 that is why free ranging king cobra entered in enclosure. The KNPSI is also not complying Rule 10 Sub -rule 25 WP Act, 1972, which says annual health checks up as well as screening for Zoonotic Disease needs to be done. The CZA has been suspended on December 31, 2014 all exchange/ acquisition/transfer of captive animals by the KNPSI, which is a serious setback to efforts of wildlife conservation, he added.
He said, “In the light of above mentioned points, I request you to remove in-charge officer of KNPSI on an urgent basis so that free and fair inquiry can take place besides to direct the Indore Municipal Corporation Commissioner to comply with the rules relating to zoo management properly.”