After the bodies of nine monkeys found near the Tulsi lake located in the core area of Borivli's Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) shocked animal lovers, the state government has admitted that these animals were poisoned to death. One person has been arrested in the case.
After the bodies of nine monkeys found near the Tulsi lake located in the core area of Borivli's Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) shocked animal lovers, the state government has admitted that these animals were poisoned to death. One person has been arrested in the case.
In a written reply to a question by Yogesh Sagar (BJP- Charkop) in the state legislative assembly on Thursday, forest minister Sudhir Mungantiwar said that the deaths of these nine monkeys, whose carcasses were found on February 8, were suspicious. However, Mungantiwar denied that any birds like kites and crows were also found dead there.
The bodies of these monkeys had been found by trekkers on the banks of the lake, which lies in a protected part of the park.
"After expert veterinary doctors at the Veterinary College, Mumbai, conducted the post-mortem, it has come to light that these monkeys died due to poisoning," Mungantiwar said in the reply. He added that the visceras of the monkeys had been sent to the Regional Forensic Science Laboratory (RFSL) in Kalina for testing.
Based on a tip-off, the authorities later arrested one Anand Namdeo Padiyal for the deaths of these animals. He is out on bail. The state government has also initiated measures for the security of these animals like operationalising a 24-hour control room and starting three new check posts. CCTV cameras have been installed at the main entry gate and the Tumnipada check post and wireless communication facilities have been commissioned to enable forest staff to immediately inform the control room in case any illegality was detected in the forest area.
Like all other wild animals, monkeys are protected under the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972. Hunting a wild animal, which also covers categories of offences like poisoning, in a protected area like the SGNP, is punishable with imprisonment and a fine.
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