Junglii, whichis touted to be India's first exotic petting zone, is under the scanner after a complaintwas filed that the animals are not properly handled.
As per a report,the Animal Welfare Board in India (AWBI) had directed the Wildlife Crime Bureau and Tamil Nadu Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services Department to investigate the place and submit an action-taken report immediately to takefurther course of action based on the complaint that the animals are notproperly handled.
The complaintwas filed by one Antony Rubin, an animal activist.
Rubin wrote aletter to S K Dutta, secretary, AWBI, on June 21 asking whether the place isregistered under the Performing Animals (Registration) Rules, 2001 and whetherthey have received a clearance from Performing Animals Sub Committee (PASC) asJunglii exhibits animals after collecting tickets from the visitors, The IndianExpress reported.
Junglii which is located near Injambakkamon the East Coast Road in Chennai, has different packages for the visitors suchas Petting Zone, Farm Friends, Reptile Crush, VIP and VVIP with separatetariffs ranging from Rs 399 to Rs 1,999.
Antony in his complaint had noted that the premises have a wide list of different species of exotic animals ranging from dogs, cats, hedgehogs, rabbits, snakes, different types of birds etc.
Antony claimedhe paid Rs 3,097 for three people and a mobile camera to see the place. ¡°Someof the animals look so stressed and the reptiles (including snakes) were givento multiple people for handling in a day,¡± he wrote.
The activist urged the authorities to inspect the facility and find out the condition of the animals.
Anthony whospoke to The Indian Express said the place has lots of exotic animals.
¡°They exhibitall these animals for a ticketing rate. Most of the animals are stressedbecause every person is given the animal and not everyone handles themcarefully. There are high chances of visitors dropping them. I am not surewhether they had PASC clearance,¡± he said.
¡°Hence, I hadfiled a complaint and AWBI has taken the matter to the authorities concerned.Today, (Wednesday), I'm informed that the joint-director of animal husbandrydepartment, Kancheepuram, would be visiting the place for an inspection,¡± hesaid
The report mentioned that no one from the Jungliiauthorities were reachable for a comment.
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