After several celebrities were accused of possessing tiger claw pendants, including Kannada film actor Darshan Thoogudeepa, a former brand ambassador of the Karnataka Forest Department (KFD), and actor and Rajya Sabha member Jaggesh, the State government is contemplating a voluntary disclosure policy under which those illegally owning wildlife artefacts will be given an opportunity to surrender the materials, without penal action.
Minister for Forest, Environment and Ecology Eshwar Khandre on Thursday said, “We are exploring the option of providing an opportunity to surrender the artefacts to those illegally owning them, in the larger public interest. The surrendered wildlife materials will be destroyed by the Forest Department.”
When asked whether the policy was proposed to protect influential people who have come under the scanner of the department, he said, “Everyone is equal before the law and the department has commenced legal procedures in the complaints filed so far.” He further said, “This policy which the State government is exploring is in the larger public interest as many are still not aware of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.”
