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Issue dos, don’ts for salute: Eco-activists

The act divided opinion among forest officials, STPF
Bengaluru: Amidst criticism from wildlife conservationists and senior forest officials, the news channel which had uploaded a clipping showing forest officials giving a Guard of Honour to a Bollywood actress, has removed the controversial clippings. Conservationists had objected to the Guard of Honour given by the staff of the Special Tiger Protection Force (STPF) in Nagarhole to actress Nargis Fakhri as she was visiting the Park for a documentary film being shot by the television channel. The guard was given to the actress at Kabini and Udbhur Check Post areas inside the Nagarhole Tiger Reserve.
The act divided opinion among the forest department officials and men from STPF, while conservationists condemned it as “a disgrace to the uniform.”Following the Guard of Honour in Kabini Range of Nagarhole the conservationists are now demanding that the forest heads issue directions on dos and don’ts on providing a Guard of Honour. The Forest Manual states that only those holding constitutional and governmental positions can be given a Guard of Honour.
The conservationists also demand that all other benefits which are often extended to VIP guests must be stopped.“A well-known Kannada actor and actress had stayed at the Anti Poaching Camps of Bandipur two years ago, though the matter was never brought to the notice of senior officials. A team of drivers from the Jungle Lodges and Resorts was sent during the afternoon to check if there were any tiger movements inside the Kabini forest area. A number of wildlife resorts and private properties around the forests throw salt around the property borders to attract wild animals. Such behavior must be taken seriously by the department and the accused must be punished,” said a wildlife conservationist.
The conservationists also point out that the forest department must draw a line on how much financial help they take from the private NGOs. “If some organisation is sharing scientific data with the government it must be welcomed. How can a television show run by a few NGOs with an annual budget of Rs 7 crore help Nagarhole Reserve which has an annual budget of more than Rs 12 crores?” questioned a wildlife expert.
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