High volume of exotic animal applications in T.N., gaps in facilities hamper regulation and seizure
Sources said around 2,000 applications are pending before the Chief Wildlife Warden (CWLW), the final authority in the State’s approval process
The Tamil Nadu Forest Department is grappling with a high volume of pending applications for the registration of exotic animals, coupled with a shortage of facilities to house seized wildlife. As of now, around 2,000 applications are awaiting approval at the Chief Wildlife Warden (CWLW), with potentially more cases being handled at the district level.
This backlog is attributed to the transition from the old PARIVESH 1.0 portal to the new PARIVESH 2.0 portal, which left several applications on the previous platform, making it unclear whether they will be migrated or if applicants will need to reapply. Additionally, the surge in demand for exotic wildlife is contributing to the high number of applications.
These applications must undergo scrutiny, an inquiry, and physical verification before a registration certificate is issued, making the process lengthy and complex. The lack of dedicated facilities for housing seized exotic animals poses another challenge, as seized wildlife cannot be released back into the wild. Animal welfare activists argue that this, combined with the high volume of pending applications, could hinder the effective regulation of exotic wildlife trade and enforcement actions against violations.
Written by urgent.news from The Hindu's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
