dna on November 8 had reported how HC had slammed the panel on August 19, asking the members to file affidavits as to why action should not be taken against them for not attending meetings.
A ready reckoner of 15 most traded animals and birds and rehabilitation facilities at Byculla Zoo and Karnala Wildlife Sanctuary were part of an intense discussion that was organised at Mantralaya on Monday. It was the first meeting of the Bird Committee, appointed by the Bombay High Court in 1997, in the last three years. The panel oversees welfare of birds and pets, and curb illegal trade and acts of cruelty against animals.
dna on November 8 had reported how HC had slammed the panel on August 19, asking the members to file affidavits as to why action should not be taken against them for not attending meetings.
According to Shakuntala Majumdar, president of Thane Society for The Prevention of Cruelty To Animals (TSPCA) and convenor of the committee, every government official supposed to be on the panel was present for the meeting and one of the most important things discussed was to set up a ready reckoner, listing pictures of 15 most commonly traded birds and animals.
"At the moment, even officials do not have information about which are the most commonly traded birds and animals, which of them are exotic and which are Indian wildlife. So, we decided to make a small dossier to help identify the species," she said.
During the meeting, rehabilitation of animals seized or rescued was discussed in detail as well. "We have planned a meeting with the Byculla Zoo officials to understand if animals or birds for trade, when rescued, can be kept in some of the enclosures there and at Karnala Wildlife Sanctuary. We have also decided to look for another rescue and rehabilitation centre," she informed.
In fact, police officials present have been asked to send letters to all police stations across Mumbai, informing about protocols of wildlife crimes. In addition, the railway police, Railway Protection Force (RPF) and NGOs have decided to carry out sensitisation programmes for the police and inform them about the laws pertaining to animal cruelty.
The bird committee meeting was attended by members of BSPCA, In Defense of Animals (IDA) and Karuna Trust. The committee, which consists of officials from the central as well as state government, was first appointed in 1997 after a PIL was filed by NGO Viniyog Parivar Trust, asking for appropriate directions to be issued to authorities to prevent inhuman treatment to birds, especially the sale of wild birds in the city.
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