Forest mobile squad raids Sudhindra Aithal’s animal shelter

Forest mobile squad raids Sudhindra Aithal’s animal shelter

Mangalore Today News Network

Udupi, Feb 29, 2012: A special forest mobile squad from Bangalore raided a private animal home, located near Narasimha Temple, Saligrama, Brahmavar on Feb 28 Tuesday. They arrested its owner Sudhindra Aithal on charges of illegally sheltering wild animals and birds.

Mr. Aithal, an animal lover, takes care of wounded wild animals and birds, which are brought to his animal shelter by the local people. However, the Wildlife Act states that a citizen cannot provide shelter to certain species of wild animals and birds, and even if they are provided shelter when wounded, they are to be released into the wild once they recover. Mr. Aithal, however, continued the keep the animals even when they got better.

 

 

According to the forest mobile squad, Mr. Aithal was duty bound to inform the forest department when the animals were brought to him, but he failed to do so.

Mr. Aithal’s animal shelter is home to jackals, peacocks, owls, boars, monkeys, and other wild creatures.

It may be recalled that Mr. Aithal’s shelter was raided by the forest police three years back. The officials confiscated hundreds of wild animals and birds and transferred them to a sanctuary. They, however, could not move a wild buffalo and a porcupine, which were friendly only with Mr. Aithal. Since that raid, a number of wild animals and birds in trouble were taken to Mr. Aithal’s home by the local people.

Mr. Aithal has registered his home as an animal shelter and has received permission from the concerned department. But forest officials state that a court order directs the animals to be transferred to wild life sanctuaries in Pilikula and Mysore.

 

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