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PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDEATE RELEASE

12 Oct 2007

A team lead by District Forest Oficer Shri Ashok Khadse, Divsional Forest Officer Mr A Bhosale,Range forest officer Mr Bhurke and Mr Bhalerao raided the premises of the Resort Choki Dhani being run by the Goel Ganga group. The raid was conducted on complaints lodged by Manoj Oswal and Dhiraj Jain of People for Animals. The operation was personally co-ordinated by Mrs Maneka Gandhi.

The following birds and animals were found on the premises which are protected under the wildlife protection act.

1. Rose ringed parakeet  (Psittacula Crameri) protected under schedule IV of the Wildlife Protection Act
2. 38 Doves and Pegionds   (Columbai Livia) other than Rock Blue Pegions protected under schedule IV of the Wildlife Protection Act

The animals were found to be kept in illegal captivity and which is a punishable offence under the Wildlife Protection Act 1972

One elephant was found to be used for performance and rides

1. Elephant is a scheduled I animal and has the highest level of protection in this country and looking at the dwindling population a project elephant is being construed on the lines of project tiger. So it is crucial that the elephants are not allowed to be used for this disastrous trade that is ruining the ecology.

1. The resort owners only have an custody certificate valid in only Rajasthan. It is illegal to either use that animal for entertainment or move him out of the state. They did not have either transit

1. It is mandatory under the section 38(h) of the Wildlife Protection Act 1972 to have authorization from the Central Zoo Authority of India for keeping protected animals in captivity. The resort so permissions from CZAI.

1. The CZAI has very strict guidelines for all protected animals being kept under captivity, especially elephants, these guidelines include, microchipping the animal, record maintanence of acquisition, brith, death and sale.

1. The resort owners could not product any treatment records, which are required to be maintained in the prescribed format, it feceal samples are being tested in the laboratories and screening against infectious diseases is being done as per the CZA guidelines.
2. The owners are required to keep a set of tranquilizing equipment to handle emergencies and the musth conditions of the animals.
3. The elephant owner is also required to send a quarterly report on implementation of CZAI guidelines and a yearly report on birth, death and acquisition of the animals.
4. It is illegal to make an animal perform under the sections 23 (1) of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1960. Unless they are registered under with the Animal Welfare Board of India.

Phone numbers for verification of the news

Maneka Gandhi 011-23357088 /9868180604

Ashok Khadse DFO 9822208716; Mr Bhurke Range Forest Officer : 9822543212 Mr Bhalerao Range Forest Officer 9850424820 Manoj Oswal, People for Animals 9890044455