After a video showing 5 boys (+1 filming), from Andoor village of Tuljapur Taluka in Osmanabad district, cutting into pieces a live non venomous Rat Snake went viral,
the team of International Organization for Animal Protection (OIPA), Amma Care Foundation (ACF) and Plant & Animals Welfare Society – Mumbai (PAWS-Mumbai) have jointly lodged written complaint to the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) in Maharashtra State, the Chief Conservator of Forests (Territorial) in Aurangabad and Divisional Forest Officer (Territorial) of Osmanabad. demanding to take legal action under Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 against the 6 boys involved in this terrible illegal act of wildlife crime and cruelty as declared by ACF and PAWS-Mumbai founder and Mumbai Cities Honorary Wildlife Warden Mr. Sunish Subramanian, who is also OIPA Maharashtra’s Representative for Wildlife Protection and Conservation.
Nisha Kunju, who is International Representative for OIPA in Maharashtra said: “This act can’t be tolerated, strict action should be taken in this case, local forest staff should find out these 5 boys whose faces are clearly seen in the video and the 6th boy who is making the video. Rat Snake is a non venomous snake and called to be farmer’s friend who controls rat population. Rat Snake is a protected species under Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.”
A joint team of OIPA, ACF and PAWS-Mumbai is following up the issue with the Forest Department as investigation is under process.
