Illegal breeding units of exotic species in Khurda

Bhubaneswar: Encouraged by the growing demands for exotic species in the state, many shops selling exotic pets have illegally set up captive breeding facilities and hatcheries for reptiles like ball python to maximize their profits.
According to sources, a few sellers have even set up huge breeding units in Khurdha district and allegedly insiders in the Forest Department are also helping them.
“There is a huge demand for exotic species like ball python in Bhubaneswar and other regions of Orissa. Currently, these reptiles are imported into Kolkata, from where they are transported to the state by road. So, a breeding unit for these species helps the sellers to avoid import formalities and other expenses,” a source in the Forest Department said on the condition of anonymity.
Although the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 offers protection to native species, it is practically outdated for handling these issues. Thus, the absence of effective laws to regulate the sale of exotic species is the major factor that is promoting their rampant illegal sale. It is feared that if unchecked, the state would soon turn into a hub for such illegal breeding units.
“The absence of rules and lack of monitoring the activities of pet shops are the two major factors helping the promotion of exotic species sale. Therefore, we have to include these exotic species in scheduled list and like our indigenous species, we should be concerned about these species too,” said Biplab Mahapatra, Chief functionary, People for Animals, Angul.
Some top officials, requesting anonymity, admitted to Orissa POST that the department doesn’t have much information about such pet shops in the capital. “We have conducted some random raids. But, the fact is that our information is getting leaked and we suspect that some of the pet shops are also involved in wildlife trafficking. However, we are also monitoring the activities of the suspected shops. However, currently we don’t have the details of all exotic pet owners or sellers in the state,” admits a top official of Wildlife Crime Control Bureau, Orissa.
Meanwhile, experts pointed out that these non-native species will have a negative effect on our native species.
“There are many examples, even in developed countries like US and Australia; non-native species had created havoc to the ecosystem. In fact, some foreign countries had spent millions to control them. For example, the exotic Burmese python is a big problem for native fauna as well as for the captive breeders in the US. So, some farm owners are paying researchers to devise methods to control these animals. Unfortunately, in India, we don’t have any laws to prevent such activities,” said Pratyush Mohapatra, herpetologist, Zoological Survey of India, adding, “But, very soon we intend to have a law to control such illegal of activities”.

With no regulation and monitoring on the sale of exotic animals, the state’s flora and fauna would face new
challenges in the near future, he apprehended.
“The Forest Department can make licensing for exotic species’ owners and sellers mandatory. Moreover, they should be made to renew the licences every year to prevent the release of non-native species to our environment. But, first these breeding units have to be shut down to prevent the unregulated sale of the exotic species. It would indirectly promote wildlife trafficking,” said Bhagirathi Behera, former Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forest.

Jose K Joseph, OP