Visakhapatnam: Andhra Pradesh police on Friday (July 29) arrested five visitors, for entering the paddock of wild boars enclosure at the Indira Gandhi Zoological Park (IGZP), Visakhapatnam, and recording a video and uploading it on social media, said zoo officials.
IGZP Curator, Nandani Salaria, requested Visakhapatnam DCP, Sumit Garud, for a speedy enquiry in this case so that the zoo officials can take action against the offenders. Further, on inquiry by the police officials, Arilova police arrested five persons in this incident.
It's been revealed that on July 3, these five visitors from Marikavalasa visited the zoo after buying tickets and have entered into the wild boar's enclosure, disturbed and teased the animals, and also shot a video and uploaded it on Instagram.
A case was booked under Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 against the miscreants under section 38-J for teasing animals in the zoo. Further, a complaint was also lodged in Visakhapatnam's Arilova Police Station on July 12, after recognising the offenders in the video and the Instagram account holder who uploaded the video and an FIR was filed on July 14.
Also read | Supreme Court Collegium Recommends Elevation Of 7 Judicial Officers As Andhra Pradesh HC Judges
The incident happened during the animal keeper or the caretaker of the enclosure have been either inside the night house cleaning or cutting feed, on the other side of the enclosure. This enclosure falls few meters away from the main circulation pathway of the herbivore section and is mostly covered with the surrounding vegetation.
The security guard posted in the herbivore section during the zoo visiting hours has to cover around eight animal enclosures. Hence, the security guard should have been on his rounds towards the other end of the herbivore section while the miscreants entered the animal enclosure.
Notice Issued To Zoo Security Agency
However, a notice has been issued to zoo security agency in this issue. Security outsourcing agency to conduct inquiries and take necessary action. Further, a detailed investigation will be conducted for any negligence on part of the staff. Zoo security outsourcing agency has been instructed to depute one more security personnel in the Herbivore section so as to maintain tight vigil.
Agency has been further instructed to issue necessary instructions to its personnel to ensure strict vigilance over all the areas of IGZP. Strict instructions have been given to the animal keepers, security personnel & zoo executive staff to maintain proper vigilance at all the times around the animal enclosures.
as per Central Zoo Authority (CZA) advisory, the height of the enclosure will be raised to avoid any such incidents in the future. The estimate in this regard is under preparation and work will be soon executed as per procedure, said the zoo officials.
Further, Zoo administration is already undertaking repairs and renovation of animals enclosures in the Herbivore section, Primate section etc., whereby moat walls are being raised to avoid such incidences.
(With ANI input)