At a time when the authorities are working to convert Rajaji National Park into a tiger reserve, SP Subudhi, the field director of the national park, has stated that he is not eager to continue on this post.
In a recorded phone conversation with People for Animals Uttarakhand member secretary Gauri Maulekhi, Rajaji director SP Subudhi has said that he is unable to fulfil his responsibilities and has already informed senior officers in the Forest Department about his willingness to be shifted out of Rajaji.
Acting on a tip off, Maulekhi had gone to the Motichur forest rest house in Rajaji on Tuesday to ascertain whether about 30 macaques had been kept in small cages with four of them badly injured. The monkeys were taken for release in the jungles by the time Maulekhi reached the site. When she phoned Subudhi, he said that the deputy conservator of forests had taken the step, adding that he had not issued any order for the simians to be captured. During the conversation- the recording of which is also with The Pioneer- Subudhi said that he was unable to fulfill his responsibilities and had informed the principal chief conservator of forests and others about his willingness to be transferred out of Rajaji. On being contacted, Subudhi told this correspondent that his wish to be transferred out of Rajaji was known to his superiors. He also hinted at being under pressure.
Meanwhile, Maulekhi has written to the principal secretary, Forests, accusing Subudhi of having made illegal recommendations regarding monkeys to the PCCF in the past for implementing which the PCCF had been pulled up by the Government of India and had to cancel such actions. "Macaques and langurs are protected species and their conflict with humans cannot be resolved using madaris and unscientific techniques that escalate the conflict. Action should be taken under the Wildlife Protection Act against the department officials involved in such actions," she stated in the letter to the principal secretary.