Agartala: Following the reports of slaughtering of six endangered pythons at Chimlung, a village located along the Mizoram border in Tripura on Sunday, the state forest department has already started investigation into the incident.
Speaking with EastMojo, Wrighbed Dutta, general secretary of Pawsome, an NGO working for the rights of the animals based in the state, said that all the six pythons slaughtered in the area belonged to endangered species and the pictures and videos were shot in the village itself.
The pythons were slaughtered and cut into pieces by the local tribal community on Sunday, claimed the members of Pawsome.
Pawsome handed over the pictures and videos which were shot by their sources during the illegal slaughtering of the pythons in the village.
“The practice of killing animals of endangered species and destroying the wildlife has continued for years but the local administration and forest officials have remained silent. We are going to meet the local administration and demand them to take immediate measures to stop the illegal practice,” Dutta said.
He also said that the practice is in clear violation of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 & is also against the guidelines of Food Safety & Standards Authority of India.
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“The practice also includes killing and selling of meat of many other protected species; and the racket may also be involved in the illegal dog meat trade. We urge the authorities to take strong action,” Dutta added.
Meanwhile, the visuals and pictures have gone viral over the internet and people have started demanding immediate measures from the state government to stop this illegal practice.
Chief wildlife warden DK Sharma said that they have received information and the report has been asked from the concerned forest division over the illegal practice and killing of six pythons in Chimlung.
“We have received the information and report has been sought from the sub-divisional forest officer. We have also asked to identify the people who were involved in the illegal practice,” Sharma said.
Some senior officials said that they were aware of the illegal slaughtering of endangered species in the forest areas along the Tripura-Mizoram border for many years.
