In a decision taken by the forest department in Odisha, people who click selfies or photographs with wild animals without prior permission from the department shall be liable for punishment and even face arrest for up to seven years, said the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) (Wildlife), Mr. Susanta Nanda, a 1989-batch IFS officer.
Mr. Nanda instructed his subordinates to make “the unscrupulous elements, trying to gain fame by violating the laws of the land, more famous by arresting them and forwarding them to the court of law.”
In a letter to divisional forest officers, deputy directors of Similipal south and north divisions, and Nandankanan Zoological Park, Mr. Nanda wrote, “We are seeing that people are posting their photographs/selfies taken with scheduled wild animals on social media. Taking photographs/selfies with such wild animals not only disturbs the normal life cycle of these animals but is also a violation of the provisions of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.”
