Exotic pet owners in the city have only one day left to register their pets.
What’s it about? From April 1, the newly amended Wildlife Protection Act takes effect. It means owning exotic and non-native animals, birds, and reptiles will become a punishable offence. If people already own exotic pets, they can self-declare them to avoid penalties.
- A little over 1,200 people in Chennai have declared ownership of 10,000 exotic animals as of 2021. More are to be accounted for. Currently, an illegally imported animal can be sent back.
- For owners in Chennai, it’s a tense time since the Centre hasn’t yet released details on the consequences of self-declaration. Questions remain on whether they should inform officials about every birth and death.
Who said what? E Prasanth, Chennai’s wildlife warden, said the demand for exotic species is big, and the trade is unregulated. Most of them are brought to Chennai to be transported to Bengaluru. Srinivas Reddy, Tamil Nadu’s chief wildlife warden, said Chennai had become a hub for exotic species, smugglers, and breeders.