Bhubaneswar: If you are planning to take selfies or photographs with wild animals – either in a cage or in the wild – think twice now. The Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) and the Chief Wildlife Warden of Odisha have issued a notification stating that taking selfies or photographs with wild animals not only disturbs the normal life cycle of the animals but also violates the provisions of Section 9 and Section 2 (16) of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
Under the above Act, people taking selfies with wild animals or taking their photographs are liable for punishment with imprisonment of up to seven years. Moreover, pictures and selfies with dead wild animals or body parts of wild animals are a violation under Section 39 (I) (a), Section 39 (2), and (3) of the Wildlife (Protection) Act.
The Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) has written to all Divisional Forest Officers, the Deputy Director Similipal North/South (Wildlife), and the Deputy Director of Nandankanan Zoo asking them to create awareness among people so that they do not indulge in such activities. People desiring to click pictures with wild animals should take prior permission from Forest officials, the letter read.
The letter further states, “Helpline numbers may be displayed at prominent places and on social media to facilitate sharing of information from persons wanting to help the cause of wildlife. But unscrupulous elements trying to gain fame by violating the laws should be taken to task and you need to make them more famous by arresting and forwarding them to the court of law.”
