Page 6 . ADC City . Tuesday, August 18, 2009
PAWS conducts spl. drive to check pets at homes
You could be in real trouble if you have a hobby of keeping wild animals or birds as pets at home. The Mumbai based PAWS (Plant & Animals Welfare Society) Mumbai had launched a special drive against those who flout laws by keeping prohibited animals at their residence.
In a recent raid conducted by PAWS activists with Forest Officer’s vigilance squad at Kandivli, 25 Muniyas and five parrots were seized from the home of Pankaj Pawar.
According to Sunish Subramanian, a large number of wild birds were being illegally caged Pawar’s residence at Ashmita Co-operative Housing Society. Following this tip-off, a PAWS-Mumbai team visited the area to check out the facts and later lodged a complaint with the Range Forest Office (RFO), Vigilance Squad.
According to T.N.Patil, Range Forest Officer, “We have seized the birds from Pankaj Pawar’s residence and also registered case in this matter against him under the Wildlife Protection Act.”
What comes under Wild Life Protection Act
HUNTING, keeping or breeding of any wild animals and birds. Acquiring, receiving, keeping in control, custody or possession, and selling wild animals like monkeys, snakes, bears, etc. or any wild birds. This includes parakeets and mynahs. Selling skins or meat of wild animals. This includes monitor lizards oil or oil made of any other creature. Dealing in stuffed squirrels, snake skins and peacock feathers. These all are punishable under Wild Life Protection Act, 1972.
