Man lands in soup for feeding banana to spotted deer in Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve

JABALPUR: The Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve management has initiated legal action against a man for allegedly feeding a banana to a spotted deer (chital) inside the reserve's core area, reiterating that feeding wild animals is a punishable offence under the law.According to the tiger reserve authorities, a video showing the man feeding the chital near Magadhi Gate surfaced on social media on June 27.The footage was reportedly recorded by a tourist returning from a safari in the Pachpedhi tourism zone and later came to the notice of the reserve management.Following the circulation of the video, officials launched an inquiry to identify the person seen in the footage.Based on the investigation, the accused was identified as Anoop Mishra, a resident of Beliya Badi village in Kotma tehsil of Anuppur district.Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve officials said the accused was produced before a court on Monday after action was initiated against him under the relevant provisions of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.The reserve management said feeding wild animals, whether with edible or inedible items, is a serious violation as it can alter their natural behaviour, increase dependency on humans and pose risks to both wildlife and visitors.

In an advisory issued along with details of the action, the Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve appealed to tourists and residents to refrain from offering food to any wild animal during visits to protected areas.Authorities warned that strict legal action would be taken against anyone found violating wildlife protection norms.