Thorat says sorry; Sena leader files complaint

After facing flak for posing for pictures with tiger cubs in Maharajbaugh zoo in Nagpur on Saturday, state agricultural minister Balashaeb Thorat has apologised for the act.

Talking to a news channel Thorat accepted that it was a mistake on his part to enter the cage and touch the cub. The channel quoted Thorat saying that it was a mistake on his part and he should not have done this.

Local Shiv Sena leader Shekhar Sawarbandhe has lodged a complaint with Sita Buldi police station against Thorat for illegally entering the tiger cage.

Thorat had entered the cage on Saturday where three tiger cubs, rescued from the forests of Junona in Chandrapur in November last year, are kept. Accompanied by a local Congress leader, Thorat petted a cub in full view of media and other visitors.

This was in blatant violation of Central Zoo Authority (CZA) rules and endangers the life of wild animals by causing them trauma and increasing risk of infection. Section 38J of the Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972 states that no person shall tease or cause disturbance to the animals in a zoo.

Conservationists feel the minister’s act amounts to teasing. “The minister’s act could have proved to be highly dangerous for him,” said Kishor Rithe, president of Satpuda Foundation, an NGO working for wildlife conservation.