Wildlife SOS denies ties to arrested wildlife traders

With a track record of 32 years of wildlife conservation in 19 States and credited with rescuing over 5,31,000 animals in coordination with the forest departments, Wildlife SOS has refuted allegations of wildlife crime.
Kartick Satyanarayan, CEO and co-founder of the NGO, said in a statement on Monday, “This is shocking, and we are deeply concerned. Our immensely celebrated efforts over the years in rescuing and eventual banning of dancing bears in India are just one of the many stories that we are proud of.

“As torchbearers of India’s wildlife and forest resources, we protect, we preserve, and we plan for the health and the welfare of creatures who are voiceless.”  Wildlife SOS also highlighted that allegations had been “flung with absolutely no basis”, and it was “completely” cooperating and willing for any kind of investigation.

Treating legitimate anti-poaching intelligence work as wildlife crime could have a chilling effect on future wildlife enforcement, he added.

The rebuttal came following reports linking it with a wildlife-contraband trader and his associate, arrested by the Madhya Pradesh State Tiger Strike Force (STSF) earlier this week. Reports said accused Bhagwan Singh alias Salim and his accomplice Wasim were on the payroll of a prominent Delhi-based wildlife conservation organisation.