8th November 2018 Yesterday afternoon by 3:00pm I got a forwarded video on whatsapp. Where few people were playing and posing with the leopard cub. Which was tied with the ropes. It was unable to move and in great distress. People were torturing the cub by poking him on his body. Cub was growling in pain and trying to defend himself. After clear observations of video language spoken in the video I came to know that its Malvani language spoken in the Konkan region. I immediately started to connect with my friends in that region and I came to know that its from Sindhudurg. District Video clicked at a house near sateli mine . Sateli mine is on 5kms from Satarda which is located at Maharashtra Goa border . After this entire situation I had immediately contact to respect ACF Subhash Puranik Sir of Sindhudurg district. After talking to him he just replied me yes I have seen this video this cub has been rescued by us . And was released back in nature Our conversation ended. His answers were not satisfactory. Now my questions to department are:-
1) Why sop was not followed ?
2) It's was just 2.5 month cub which was still on its mother's milk how can it be released back directly without any proper planning ?
3) Department is saying they have done treatment in gov veterinary hospital and released it back by health certificate of animal medical officer .
My question is, Where Sindhudurg forest department is not having any rehab centre in Sindhudurg apart from 2 gov veterinary hospital which is less equipped with gadgets. Like x-ray machines and etc. To check the distressed animal,bird or reptile. So, how can they treat the animal and release it back in nature within few days?
4) If the rescued animal was not at rehab centre where was it kept meanwhile?
5) Was it right to tie up 2.5 month old cub with ropes by its neck and hands and click photos posing ?
6)Was it not required for department to try to re- connect cub to his mother because its still being depending on mother's milk ?
7)Fact:-
For the first three months of life, leopards consume nothing but mother's milk. They typically wean around 3 months of age, after which time they share in the spoils of their mother's kill.At 12 to18 months, the cubs are ready to live on their own for food & shelter.
So,
Will it survive the way you have released without proper planning ?
Everyone is busy with the cubs of Avni but we have to also look after this kind of cases where merely 2.5 month old leopard cub is released in the wild without any proper planning.
This also amounts to murder of that cub.
We will be sending letter and mail to respective authorities.
Breaking Malvani news 8th nov 18
LINK: https://youtu.be/ntvsbzTeab8
Samm TV news 8th November 18
LINK : https://youtu.be/ViuoYBVF1Dg