India: Maneka Gandhi comes to the rescue of simians:

she wants to save 'Naughty Monkeys' from Monkey Jail

Former union Minister, Noted Environmentalist and member of Parliament, Ms Maneka Gandhi has come forward to save the "Naughty Monkeys" from so called Monkey Jail at deer Park, Patiala.

Plight of these Rhesus Macaques was highlighted in national and International Media and lot of hue and cry was made by various animals saving groups. The monkeys have been now relocated at Hanuman Vatika (Rescue Centre) maintained by People For Animals, which is headed by Maneka herself, at national level.

Maneka sent a team headed by Dr. Sandeep K. Jain, President People For Animals Ludhiana and ex-Member Animal Welfare Board of India, to look out the fate of these monkeys captured and put behind bars from various parts of State.

These were usually those who come to urban areas and have become ferocious due to one or another reasons.

These were kept in two enclosures at Deer Park Patiala Bir. This corner was declared the Dangerous Zone.

The conditions and guidelines laid by CZA were openly violated.

On getting the report, Ms Gandhi contacted the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Chief Wildlife Warden Punjab, Mr.A S Dogra and asked them to shift them to Congenial environment and suggested them to shift to the newly set up Hanuman Vatika, which is exclusively Monkey Rescue centre, especially built for the Monkeys rescued from laboratories.

As monkeys are protected under Schedule II of wildlife Protection act and are part of zoo, these can not be sent to another place without the permission of the Central Zoo Authority, under the Ministry of Environment and Forests.

Maneka also took initiative to talk to Dr.B.K.Sharma, Member Secretary, CZA to take quick action on the request made by PFA Ludhiana. The orders came on 28th evening to PCCF cum Chief wildlife Warden, Punjab allowing the shift under section38l of Wildlife protection Act 1972(Amended 2003).

Source: Sandeep Kumar Jain
Author: Sandeep Kumar Jain

Link: 500 unwanted monkeys
Link: Ahimsa Times February 2005


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