‘Animal parts’ display: Satpura lodge staff held

Bhopal: The manager and a naturalist of the upscale Forsyth Lodge resort in the Madhai tourism zone of Satpura Tiger Reserve (STR) were arrested by the forest department in connection with the alleged display of illegal animal parts to boost overseas guests. They were sent to judicial custody under provisions of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, officials said on Sunday.Manager Nipun Mahto and naturalist Faiz Ansari were produced before the court of Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) Tejdeep Sasan in Sohagpur, which remanded them to judicial custody at Pipariya sub-jail till March 25.While forest officials described the action as part of enforcement against illegal possession of wildlife articles, some insiders in the wildlife tourism circuit questioned the move, calling it a ‘witchhunt'. Some sources also linked the development to the alleged displeasure of a senior government officer. However, there was official corroboration of such claims.The case stems from an inspection carried out on March 7 by Sohagpur SDM Priyanka Bhalavi, during which wildlife remains were allegedly found displayed at the luxury eco-tourism property located near Madhai in Satpura Tiger Reserve. The seized items included 4 chital antlers, 4 porcupine quills and 2 snake sheds.