Forest Dept. highlights mandatory registration of exotic animals

The Tamil Nadu Forest Department underlined the importance of registering exotic live animals under the Living Animal Species (Reporting and Registration) Rules, 2024, and warned of stringent legal action against those violating the provisions.A release from District Forest Officer, Erode Forest Division, K.V. Appala Naidu said individuals possessing exotic species listed in Schedule IV of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, must declare them through the PARIVESH portal within the stipulated period.Prior written approval from the Chief Wildlife Warden concerned is mandatory for transferring such animals through sale, gift or adoption, or relocating them across State or district boundaries. Submission of an online application alone does not constitute approval.The department has also made it mandatory to report the birth, acquisition or death of registered exotic animals to the local Forest Department within 30 days. In the event of an animal’s death, a post-mortem report issued by a registered veterinarian must be submitted.The warning comes after 11 exotic animals, including Lar gibbons, African serval cats and tufted capuchins, were seized from a private breeding facility in Perundurai.A joint inspection by the Erode Forest Division and the Tamil Nadu Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (TNWCCB) at the facility owned by S.K. Keshavanathan revealed that the animals were being kept without valid documents establishing their legal origin, import records or mandatory registrations.The Department said it had intensified inspections of facilities involved in the possession, breeding and trade of exotic live animal species to enforce the provisions of the 2024 Rules and Section 49M of the Act. It warned that possession of exotic animals without verifiable legal provenance and valid registration could lead to seizure and prosecution under the Act, which provides for imprisonment and fines. The public has been advised to verify the legal registration of exotic animals before purchasing or keeping them as pets.People can report illegal trade, unauthorised breeding facilities or possession of exotic animals to the local Forest Range Officer at 89258 61331 or the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau helpline at 0422 2646564. Published - October 30, 2026 07:27 pm IST