Wild animals shifted from Amala Institute

Thrissur: The forest officials here have shifted the wild animals and birds, including a python, peacocks and monkeys which were kept in an allegedly unauthorized zoo at Amala Institute of Medical Sciences, to different rehabilitation centres of wildlife sanctuaries across the state and Thrissur zoo.

“But the officials of the wildlife and forest department, who had been sitting on the order, swung into action after the new government took office  on Wednesday and shifted them on Thursday.  The officials concerned were under political pressure till now to vacate the ‘zoo’ in the hospital,” Mr V.K.Venkitachalam of Heritage Animal Task Force who had filed several complaints with the Zoo Authority of India,  told DC.

Institute PRO Joseph Varghese said that all the animals except a falcon were taken away by the forest officials. “We had obtained the licence for keeping these animals as a part of ‘pet therapy’ meant for the patients. But due to some animal lovers and political parties filing complaints,  we had to obtain a stay order from the High Court to keep the animals in the institute. We had been spending more than Rs 10 lakh for the animals every year and nearly seven staff were posted to take care of them. Now, we have given up on the matter,” he added.