Forest SDO feeds poha to sambar in Satpura reserve, suspended after video goes viral

Bhopal: A forest officer of the rank of sub-divisional officer (SDO) has been suspended after a video surfaced on social media purportedly showing him taming and feeding poha to a wild sambar inside Madhya Pradesh’s Satpura Tiger Reserve.The suspended officer, Vinod Verma, assistant director in charge, Itarsi, was placed under suspension with immediate effect by Satpura Tiger Reserve field director Rakhi Nanda following circulation of the video and the ensuing controversy.The issue was raised by wildlife activist Ajay Dubey, who objected to the officer’s alleged interaction with the wild animal, saying such behaviour was contrary to basic wildlife management principles that discourage habituating wild animals to humans.In the suspension order, the forest department said Verma was seen engaging in “unnatural behaviour” with a wild sambhar in the viral video. It said his conduct amounted to violation of Rule 3 of the Madhya Pradesh Civil Services Conduct Rules, 1965, as he failed to discharge his official duties properly and showed serious negligence and insensitivity.During the suspension period, Verma’s headquarters will be the office of the assistant director, Pipariya, and he has been directed not to leave headquarters without prior permission of the field director. He will receive subsistence allowance as admissible under the rules.