New Delhi: The Delhi government has nominated an environmental NGO under investigation for its alleged involvement in poaching of 10 leopards in Madhya Pradesh’s Kuno National Park.
A 23 October gazette notification nominated Delhi-based Wildlife SOS as one of the expert representatives in the Delhi State Wildlife Board, a statutory advisory body responsible for advising the state government on matters relating to wildlife conservation, protection of forests and management of protected areas.
“In exercise of the powers conferred by the Section 6 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, the Lt. Governor of Delhi hereby constitutes the Board for Wildlife for the National Capital Territory of Delhi,” the notification read.
In October, MP’s State Tiger Strike Force (STSF) questioned Wildlife SOS’s CEO and co-founder Kartick Satyanarayan in connection with the recovery of 10 leopard skins in Uttar Pradesh’s Agra, allegedly linked to a poaching network in Kuno.
In its report, the STSF said the network was operating on intelligence provided by people involved with Wildlife SOS. The STSF also arrested two of its officials during the course of the investigation.
Wildlife SOS said the allegations were “flung with absolutely no basis” and said it has records and substantial proof to counter the claims.
“As torchbearers of India’s wildlife and forest resources, we protect, we preserve, and we plan for the health and the welfare of creatures who are voiceless,” Satyanarayan had said in a statement on 18 August.
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Rekha Gupta is chairperson
Wildlife activists have raised concerns over the NGO’s nomination to Delhi’s wildlife board.
“This is an NGO that is being investigated over serious allegations of leopard poaching, and you are nominating them to Delhi’s wildlife board. How can a tainted NGO accused of risking our wildlife sit on official policy boards meant to protect them,” said MP-based wildlife activist Ajay Dubey.
Requests sent to Wildlife SOS for a response went unanswered.
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta will serve as the chairperson of the 27-member board. Two other wildlife organisations–Wildlife Trust of India and WWF-India–are also a part of the board.
The board also has 10 nominated experts, including environmentalists, scientists and former IFS officers.
(Edited by Stela Dey)