Rescued camel puts forest department in spot of bother

An eight-year-old camel, rescued from a private party in Bangalore by the State forest department officials in December 2013, and handed over to Akhil Karnataka Prani Daya Sangha, has put the department in a fix.

The Sangha, on Monday, filed a harassment case against the forest officials in Koramangala police station.

Sangha spokesperson Sunil Dugar said, “The forest officials are pressuring us to return the camel to its dealer, violating the High Court orders of 2008. The order states that camels are not allowed to enter Karnataka because they are not natives of this habitat and the weather here is not conducive for them.

“We are following the orders and refused to return the camel to its dealer who has violated the rule. We will also take action against the dealer of the camel.”

The dealer, identified as M D Aslam through the letter found with the caretaker of camel, states: Mohammed Aslam is the owner of the camel. It was sent to a function of Ashok Bhai in Devanahalli on December 31, 2013, and was returning on January 4, 2013, by vehicle bearing registration number AP 28 TE 3 880.”

A camel and an elephant were being used for a private party. While the elephant was rescued and sent back to a Mutt in Chitradurga, the camel was handed over to the Sangha for caretaking.

“We have just requested the Sangha to return the camel and nothing else. We have not pressured them. Further, we are not aware of any case also,” a forest department official said.