Chief Wildlife Warden turns blind eye to Fahadh’s jumbo act

ALAPPUZHA: Actor Fahadh Fasil has gone scot-free after he was seen swinging on the tusks of a captive elephant in a 21-second video violating wildlife protection rules recently.

Though animal rights activists protested after the video appeared on social  networking sites, the Chief Wildlife Warden has  not taken any action against him so far.  

Deccan Chronicle had exposed the dangerous act in a report published on June 3.    Mr V.K. Venkitachalam, secretary, Heritage Animal Task Force, on Thursday  complained to the Animal Welfare Board of India about the CWW’s inaction.

It may be recalled that a person who posted a video on the Facebook showing him grabbing the leg of a jaguar inside the Hyderabad zoo was booked and put behind bars by the Hyderabad police and forest officials the other day.   He was charged under section 38 (j) of the Wildlife Protection Act which prohibits teasing of an animal.

“The actor committed  a similar offence warranting his arrest  under the provisions of section 38 to 40 of the Act of 1972,”  said Mr  Venkitachalam.   

Mr G. Harikumar,  CWW,  was not available for comments.  Mr O.P. Kaler, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, told DC that the CWW had received the petition and that action would be taken after an inquiry into the incident.