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Gujarat: Three imprisoned for killing lions

14 October 2008

Despite increased awareness and vigilance, wildlife trade continues unabated. The problem is creating an imbalance in the natural heritage of our country. When will the society understand that animals that are voiceless are as important as humans?.

POACHING OF the rare among other wild animals is one of the serious problems of the world. Despite the presence of stringent laws, poachers still fearlessly kill animals like tigers, lions, rhinos, deer and several other species with a motive of selling their skins, bones and other body parts yielding high prices. At times, even the common people kill the fierce animals to save themselves from an expected attack.

Pronouncing a landmark judgement, a court in Dharli village of Amreli District, Gujarat, held three people for killing five lions. The court sentenced to a three-year imprisonment Durlabhji Vadharia, a farm owner in Prempura, where the lions were electrocuted on October 19, 2007. His son Parsottam was sentenced a one-and-a-half months’ jail term.

Another accused, Ravji Hirani, got a two-and-a-half months’ imprisonment for destroying evidence related to the alleged killing of lions. While Bhala Parmar, also accused in the case was acquitted by the court. The court slapped a fine of Rs 10,000 on Vadharia.

Headed by Judicial magistrate IL Pathan, the court found the three guilty under various sections of Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. According to the court, three lionesses and two cubs were earlier electrocuted by a barbed wire and their carcasses were buried in Vadharia’s field.

Vadharia had dug a three-feet deep and 10-feet wide pit with the help of others and had put the carcasses in it. He had also added fertilisers in it, so that the carcasses could decompose faster. The forensic experts found marks of electrocution on the three carcasses while investigating.

However, while confessing before the investigating officer, Vadharia said that the lionesses and their cubs were killed when they came in touch with the barbed fencing connected to an electricity source. As all the body parts and claws were intact so the investigation team ruled it out as poaching. Hence, the involved were given imprisonment by the court.

Killing of the animals is not allowed in any circumstance. If they tend to pose any danger, then people should take assistance from the forest department or the other concerned departments. The judgement of the court in this case has sent a stern message to those who are involved in poaching of protected and other wild animals.

(source)