Kathmandu, July 22

Lawmakers have taken strong exception to the provision in the bill formulated to amend the National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act- 2029, which proposes allowing wild animals to be raised as pets.

Speaking at the meeting of the Environment Conservation Committee of the legislature-parliament, Madan Bahadur Amatya charged that the bill was introduced in collusion with poachers and wildlife smugglers.

Likewise, Suresh Raj Acharya said the idea of allowing wild animals to be reared as pets was ridiculous. Another lawmaker Dirgha Raj Bhat said that the bill was objectionable. Lawmakers Man Bahadur Bishwokarma, Parshuram Tamang, Ganga Bishwokarma, Sakaldev Sutiyar, Sudip Prakash Wala, Barbat Gurung, Tukraj Sigdel, Lila Magar, Ganesh Bimali, Sita Luitel (Gyawali), Min Kumari Dahal, and Kabita Kumari Sardar, among others, stood against the bill.

Chief Executive Officer of the Jane Goodall Institute Nepal, Manoj Gautam, said that outbreaks of various diseases such as bird flu and swine flu could occur and the environment could be adversely affected if wild animals are allowed to be raised as pets.

This could also increase incidences of animal attacks on humans and risks of poaching of wild animals, he said.