Wildlife trophies, including canines and claws of leopards, were destroyed in Ooty by Mudumalai Tiger Reserve (MTR) forest officials, on Wednesday. The trophies included those confiscated and those acquired through natural death.
"After obtaining permission from the Chief Wildlife Warden, confiscated trophies pertaining to cases that are closed, were destroyed," said Srinivas R Reddy, field director, MTR and Mukurthi National Park. A few trophies of animals obtained through natural death which the forest department possessed was also destroyed after getting permission from the chief wildlife warden.
As many as 18 claws of leopards, four canines and 20 touches, a small growth similar to tusks, found in female elephants, were burnt at Deer Park in Ooty in the presence of the field director, MTR and NGOs such as Nilgiri Wildlife and Environment Association (NWEA) and WWF. The media was also present at the event.
"We followed the protocol prescribed by the chief wildlife warden while destroying the trophies," said Reddy.
Tusks which are in possession with the forest department will in due course be handed over to educational institutions, after getting permission from the chief wildlife warden, Reddy added.
"After obtaining permission from the Chief Wildlife Warden, confiscated trophies pertaining to cases that are closed, were destroyed," said Srinivas R Reddy, field director, MTR and Mukurthi National Park. A few trophies of animals obtained through natural death which the forest department possessed was also destroyed after getting permission from the chief wildlife warden.
As many as 18 claws of leopards, four canines and 20 touches, a small growth similar to tusks, found in female elephants, were burnt at Deer Park in Ooty in the presence of the field director, MTR and NGOs such as Nilgiri Wildlife and Environment Association (NWEA) and WWF. The media was also present at the event.
"We followed the protocol prescribed by the chief wildlife warden while destroying the trophies," said Reddy.
Tusks which are in possession with the forest department will in due course be handed over to educational institutions, after getting permission from the chief wildlife warden, Reddy added.