Revelation mar Wildlife Week

Jalpaiguri, Oct. 30: A revelation has marred the spirit of the Wildlife Week, which is held to generated awareness regarding the conservation of wild animals. It was found that a large number of houses including the European Club and the Jalpaiguri Palace were decorated with animal trophies – not enlisted with the forest department.

Under the Wildlife Conservation Act of 1972, the forest department had given notice to the animal trophy owners to enlist their possessions and obtain certificates but they have paid no heed to the directive.

The Jalpaiguri Palace tops the list of offenders since it has stuffed heads of tigers, leopards and bears, horns of Indian Gaur and Deers, and skins of several animals. 50 such illegal items are supposed to be in possession of the Raikat Royal Family.

When the owners of these trophies were asked, they said that they were simply unaware of any such law to enlist the trophies with the forest department.

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