Beware! Clicking Selfies, Pictures With Wild Animals Will Land You in Jail

Bhubaneswar: From now on taking selfies or pictures with wild animals in Odisha will land you in jail.

Taking note of people posting photographs/ selfies with scheduled wild animals on social media, the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) and the Chief Wildlife Warden of Odisha stated that such act not only disturbs the normal life cycle of the animals, but it also violates the provisions of Section 9, Section 2 (16) of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.

Under the Act, a person is liable for punishment with imprisonment up to 7 years.

The pictures and selfies with dead wild animals or wild animal body parts posted on social media platforms also invites punishment as it is a violation under section 39 (I) (a), section 39 (2), and (3) of the Wildlife (Protection) Act.

In a letter to all Divisional Forest Officers, Deputy Director Similipal north/south (Wildlife), and Deputy Director of Nandankanan Zoo, the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) and the Chief Wildlife Warden of Odisha asked the officials to enhance awareness among the public so that they refrain from such activities.

“Helpline numbers may be displayed at prominent places and on social media to facilitate sharing of information from persons wanting to help the cause of wildlife. But unscrupulous elements trying to gain fame by violating the laws should be taken to task and you need to make them more famous by arresting and forwarding them to the court of law,” the letter read.