(IN) Wild animals recovered from private possession in Bengal

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Endangered animals recovered from a Hooghly house

 

Express News Service*

 

16 September, 2009,

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/endangered-animals-recovered-from-a-hooghly-ho\

use/517660/

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Kolkata : *Around 50 animals of endangered species were seized from a house

at Palpara in Chandernagore in Hooghly district on Tuesday afternoon. The

officials of Howrah divisional forest range along with officials of the

state wildlife department seized the animals from a house that belonged to

one Gautam Seth.

 

Several animals, which are classified as endangered species under different

schedules of the Wildlife Protection Act were also seized during the raid.

These included around 10 peacocks, 30 parakeets, 10 turtles and 10 peacock

eggs and one giant squirrel.

 

According to forest officials, Seth is a relative of Harihor Seth who was

the first president of the then independent Chandernagore. Belonging to a

well-to-do family, Seth (45) has been keeping these animals in his nine

bigha garden for several years. Seth runs a nursery and is also a

businessman.

 

Sources claimed that a few years ago, one of Seth’s neighbours, Narayani

Seth (72), had complained to the forest department about Gautam illegally

running his private zoo. Following this, the officials raided Gautam’s house

but did not seize the animals. In 2007, Gautam appealed to the High Court

asking for a licence. The case was however dismissed by the High Court a few

weeks ago, after which a notice was sent to the divisional forest department

about the illegal possession of animals.

 

“We got a notice from the High Court about the illegal possession of

animals. The animals have been brought to the rescue centre in Salt Lake. We

would be freeing some of them into the wild and keep some at the Alipore Zoo

after a few days,” said P K Dutta, Additional Divisional Forest Officer of

Howrah Divisional forest range.

 

Gautam was, however, not present at his home when the animals were seized.

“We have submitted a chargesheet against Gautam Seth in the court and the

court will decide on his arrest,” Dutta added.

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