Now Reading: Seven African serval cats seized from Erode farm
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Seven African serval cats seized from Erode farm
Forest officials have found seven African serval cats, including three newborn cubs, during an inspection of a farm in Erode owned by S K Keshavanathan. The farm had earlier supplied Lar Gibbons…
The Story in Brief
Forest officials have found seven African serval cats, including three newborn cubs, during an inspection of a farm in Erode owned by S K Keshavanathan. The farm had earlier supplied Lar Gibbons to Chennai businessman C K Ranganathan. Officials from the Forest Department and Tamil Nadu Wildlife Crime Control Bureau confirmed the discovery of four adults and three cubs, with one adult nearly the size of a leopard.
The breeder reportedly told officials that one serval came from Hyderabad and three from Kerala. The department is verifying documents to establish the chain of ownership and source of the animals. The serval is listed in CITES Appendix II, making its international trade regulated. Officials suspect the facility may have been involved in breeding and movement of exotic wildlife.
The Indian Opinion
Some narratives paint this as a simple case of a private collector flouting wildlife laws. But the real story may turn on whether the breeder held valid documents and permits. The focus on the owner's prior links to a high-profile businessman could distract from the core question: was any law actually broken? The documents the department has sought, or the lack of them, will settle that. Until they are examined, assumptions are premature.
Source: newindianexpress.com
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