NE News

Tripura tribals kill six endangered pythons for consumption; NGOs seek action

Sentinel Digital Desk

GUWAHATI: Six pythons belonging to an endangered species were slaughtered for consumption at Simlung near the Tripura-Mizoram border in North Tripura district. The snakes were then publicly decapitated, skinned out, cut into pieces, and eaten, according to media reports.

The creatures were killed by people from a local tribal community around 221 km away from Agartala.

Authorities are trying to identify the people through video clips and photographs of the incident that had gone viral on social media.

Chief Wildlife Warden DK Sharma said, "We have photographs in which some people can be seen. We are trying to identify them and take necessary action. We have asked the forest division concerned to submit a report at the earliest."

The official confessed that his department was aware of illegal slaughtering of endangered animals which is going on near the Tripura-Mizoram border for many years now.

Animal rights activists are terribly upset with this incident.

"This illegal practice of destroying forests and wildlife has been going on for years, but no strict action or awareness drive has been carried out. A deputation will be given to the local administration and the Forest Department to take immediate measures to stop such practices," said general secretary Rigved Dutta of Pawsome told indianexpress.com.