19 enthusiasts give up wildlife articles, as 90-day window opens

Bengaluru, India: The Karnataka government, at a cabinet meeting on January 5, had taken a decision to open a 90-day window for people to surrender wildlife articles in their possession.

The forest department started the exercise of collecting articles and from January 19 to February 7, 19 people surrendered illegal wildlife articles in their possession, 14 of which are from Bengaluru alone, followed by Mysuru, Dharwad and Dakshina Kannada. The list of items includes elephant tusks, tiger claws, gaur horns, deerskin and antlers.

“The response is slow but is gradually picking up. There is time and people will come gradually. The guidelines and method to surrender are online. People can surrender the items at any forest department office across the state,” said Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Brijesh Kumar Dikshit. The state government has given time till April 9 for people to surrender, during which no case will be filed against them. Legal action will be taken against those found in possession of wildlife articles, after April 9.