Baripada: Conservationists are raising concerns over violations of wildlife protection laws in Mayurbhanj district after a 12-foot king cobra was rescued and released without following proper protocols. The snake was found in the house of a resident in Baidakuli village, located near the Similipal Wildlife Sanctuary.
The frightened family informed Forest officials but, instead of dispatching a trained snake handler, two untrained forest personnel captured and released the snake into the wild. Furthermore, videos of the snake recorded by locals went viral on social media later. Wildlife protection guidelines stipulate that endangered species like the king cobra, listed under Schedule-I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 require special handling. Rescued animals should be monitored and kept in a safe location before their release, which should be done away from populated areas to avoid conflict.
Additionally, filming and sharing rescue footage on social media is prohibited, but locals violated this rule by making the video of the rescue viral. Baripada Divisional Forest Officer A Uma Mahesh acknowledged the incident but stated that delays in obtaining permission from the Chief Wildlife Warden led to the use of untrained staff.
Critics argue that the Forest department’s reliance on untrained personnel highlights a lack of preparedness in handling endangered species. Although the snake appeared healthy and was released into the forest, critics argue that the forest department’s rescue team is inactive despite having a rescue vehicle worth Rs 45 lakh. According to animal rights activist Bibhudatta Das, this negligence reflects poorly on the department’s preparedness and commitment to wildlife protection.
