Why is this Junglii in ECR in Chennai is making many heads turn now?
Posted on: 13/Jul/2022 9:29:56 AM
Located in East Coast Road or ECR in south Chennai, Junglii is a pet shop and an indoor zoo having 30 species of exotic animals. Various animals present here are hedge dogs, rabbits plus reptiles like snakes and different species of birds etc. It must be noted that for 30 minutes of petting, the ticket is Rs 399 and for access to all animals with one hour of handling an amount Rs 9999 must be paid by the public.
This Junglii is India`s first ever petting zoo and now it has come under the scanner of Animal Welfare Board of India or AWBI for ticketing people to handle and take close-up photos with animals.
Point is that a member of TN State Wildlife Board Mr. Anthony Clement Rubin has filed a complaint about Junglii collecting money from the people. Based on the complaint, Mr. S.K. Dutta, AWBI member secretary has written a letter to the regional deputy director of Wildlife Crime Control Bureau and to the director of TN Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services department to investigate this pet zoo and submit a report on the action taken.
Information is that AWBI officials has asked the authorities to check regarding if there was any violation of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1960, Performing Animals Registration Rules 2001 and Wildlife Prevention Act 1972.
The shocking piece of information is that Junglii has not taken any permission under Performing Animals Registration Rules 2001 even though it has been changing the public for entry ticket etc.
The owner of the Junglii Mr. A.R. Vijay expressed his views. He spoke about how no rules were broken and how all permissions have been obtained. He mentioned that consulting fee and not entry fee was charged from the public. He concluded that Junglii has been spreading awareness regarding the exotic animals.
