Chhattisgarh Forest Department Charges Raipur Man for Abuse and Illegal Possession of Langur, Following PETA India Complaint

For Immediate Release:

30 January 2024

Contact:

Hiraj Laljani; [email protected]

Sanskriti Bansore; [email protected]

Raipur – After a viral video surfaced on social media capturing the beating of a captive grey langur, commonly known as a Hanuman langur, who was leashed by the neck, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India urgently worked with Chhattisgarh forest officials to rescue the primate and get a preliminary offence report (POR) registered against the alleged abuser. The POR was registered under sections 9, 39, and 51 of the Wild Life (Protection) Act (WPA), 1972. Gray langurs are protected under Schedule II of the WPA, 1972, which makes capturing them or keeping them in captivity as “pets” or to force them to perform punishable by up to three years in prison, a fine of up to Rs 1 lakh, or both.

“PETA India is thankful to Divisional Forest Officer, Raipur Division, Shri Vishwesh Kumar, IFS, and Forest Guard Bhupendra Kumar Khairwar for promptly rescuing the abused primate and taking stringent punitive action against the abuser,” says PETA India Vegan Outreach Manager Dr Kiran Ahuja. “PETA India encourages all kind people to keep their eyes open and report any cases of animal abuse, health emergencies, or illegal wildlife trade to the relevant authorities, such as the police or forest department.”

Following the rescue, the langur was sent for a health check and rehabilitation at Nandanvan Jungle Safari, Naya Raipur. The langur will later be released into nature, as is set protocol, after the relevant formalities have been completed. In the forests where they belong, Hanuman langurs live in groups of up to 100. They spend much of their time playing, grooming, and engaging in other social activities. Family members are always on the lookout for danger and quickly rush to the defence of their loved ones.

To report cruelty to animals or emergencies involving them, please call PETA India on 9820122602.

PETA India – whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to abuse in any way” – opposes speciesism, a human-supremacist worldview. For more information, please visit PETAIndia.com or follow the group on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, or Instagram.

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