The Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) and the Chief Wildlife Warden, Odisha, have been urged to direct the district Collector, Puri, not to destroy the roosting sites of thousands of bats during the demolition of the Emar Mutt. Wildlife Society of Orissa secretary Dr Biswajit Mohanty in an e-mail expressed concern that about 1,000 bats are going to be deprived of their traditional roosting site in Emar mutt building near Lord Jagannath Temple of Puri as the old structure is being demolished and a huge number of bats are seen flying out.
"Two species of bats (Otomops wroughtoni & Latidens salimalii ) are protected being listed under Part I to Schedule I of WPA,1972. We need to identify this population which could be one of these two species and hence deserve highest level of protection under the law.
Destruction of roosting/nesting site or young of any protected species is an offence under the WPA, 1972. Hence, we request you to direct the district administration to halt demolition until the site is surveyed and steps adopted to provide a safe roosting/nesting site for the endangered bats," said Mohanty.