Man who shot viral video with wild elephant in Bandipur Forest penalised for Wildlife Act violation

After paying the fine amount, Hamid has spoken for a video, stating, “While travelling to Ooty via Bandipur Forest, I have shot photos and videos in front of an elephant. Thus, I have paid a fine of Rs 25,000. Nobody should violate the law like me”.

Chamarajanagar: The Forest department imposed a fine of Rs 25,000 on a person, who shot a video and photos, by making noise in front of a wild elephant, on the Gundlupet and Ooty Road that goes through the Bandipur forest, Chamarajanagar district, recently.

The elephant was grazing by the road side, when Shahul Hamid, a resident of Gundlupet, had violated the wildlife Acts and his video had gone viral on the social media. Environmentalists and ecological activists had demanded his arrest. However, the Forest department officials traced him on the basis of the video.

The Forest department has taken an undertaking from Hamid that he will not trouble wild animals.

After paying the fine amount, Hamid has spoken for a video, stating, “While travelling to Ooty via Bandipur Forest, I have shot photos and videos in front of an elephant. Thus, I have paid a fine of Rs 25,000. Throwing plastic items, stopping by the roadside in forest areas and shooting photos and videos with wild animals is a crime. Nobody should violate the law like me”.