A senior Forest Division official confirmed there was a excessive quantity of functions and mentioned the backlog was partly linked to the transition from the sooner PARIVESH 1.0 portal to PARIVESH 2.0. (Representational picture)
| Photograph Credit score: Sathyamoorthy M
A excessive quantity of functions looking for registration of unique animals is pending earlier than the Tamil Nadu Forest Division, whereas the State faces a scarcity of devoted services to accommodate unique wildlife when it’s seized.
Sources mentioned round 2,000 functions are pending earlier than the Chief Wildlife Warden (CWLW), the ultimate authority within the State’s approval course of. The variety of functions pending on the district stage is known to be increased, as functions are first scrutinised by district authorities earlier than being forwarded to the CWLW.
A senior Forest Division official confirmed there was a excessive quantity of functions and mentioned the backlog was partly linked to the transition from the sooner PARIVESH 1.0 portal to PARIVESH 2.0. When the brand new portal was launched, a number of candidates had already filed their functions on PARIVESH 1.0, and it stays unclear whether or not these functions shall be migrated to the brand new platform or whether or not candidates must reapply, the official mentioned.
On the similar time, the official mentioned the portal transition was not the one cause for the quantity, declaring that demand for unique wildlife was additionally excessive.
Breeders of unique animals ought to search permission from Chief Wildlife Warden
The quantity of functions has implications for the division’s potential to scrutinise paperwork and conduct bodily verification of animals and services. Underneath the Dwelling Animal Species (Reporting and Registration) Guidelines, 2024, possession of animals lined underneath Schedule IV of the Wild Life (Safety) Act needs to be reported and registered. The method entails scrutiny of the applying, an inquiry and bodily verification of the power earlier than a registration certificates is issued.
Rakesh Kumar Dogra, CWLW, mentioned the scrutiny and approval of functions was a protracted and sophisticated course of, involving verification of the knowledge with the Forest Departments of different States, notably within the case of species listed within the CITES Appendices. The functions had been being processed as per the prescribed norms.
One other problem is the dearth of infrastructure to accommodate unique animals after they’re seized, say activists. Tamil Nadu doesn’t have devoted services to quarantine and accommodate unique wildlife taken into custody by enforcement businesses.
This has emerged as a priority within the ongoing investigation in Erode involving unique animals, days after a video of actor Vikram taking part in with a Lar Gibbon on the residence of Chennai businessman C.Ok. Rangananthan, as officers are additionally contemplating the place the animals could possibly be housed if they’re confiscated.
In contrast to native wildlife, seized unique animals can not merely be launched into their pure habitat. They want safe services the place they are often quarantined and housed whereas their provenance, possession and authorized standing are established, mentioned animal welfare activist and conservationist Shravan Krishnan.
Conservationists mentioned the dearth of holding services, coupled with the quantity of functions awaiting processing, might hamper the efficient regulation of the commerce and possession of unique wildlife and the enforcement motion that follows when violations are detected.
Printed – August 16, 2026 11:38 am IST
