Animal Husbandry, Horticulture and Food Processing Minister Kusum Mehdele, has sought a law that allows people to domesticate or keep as pets big cats like lions and tigers for their conservation. In a proposal sent to the state’s forest department, the minister has cited legal provisions in some African and South-East Asian countries like Thailand which have helped bring about an increase in the population of the big cats. 

The minister said that there are various projects in the country for conservation of tigers, although crores of rupees have been spent on these projects, there has been no surprising increase in tiger numbers. In Thailand and some other nations, there is a legal recognition for people to keep tigers and lions as pets, she added that the number of such animals is increasing in a surprising way in these countries.

Following suggestions from the minister, MP Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Narendra Kumar has written to the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) and Wildlife Institute of India (WII) seeking their comments on the proposal. 

“It is surprising that such a bizarre suggestion could be made by senior minister Mehdele. She hails from the Panna region of the state, which is known for its tiger population. I denounce such a proposal and request the central government not to give its permission for domesticating the tiger,” Bhopal-based wildlife activist Ajay Dubey said.

By Premji