The Punjab cabinet has approved a four-point agenda from the forest department, including the addition of “big cats” to Schedule-II of the Wildlife Act of 1974, announced Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb.
The law now regulates the keeping of five big cat species—lions, cheetahs, tigers, pumas, and jaguars. Aurangzeb stated that there had been no legislation for over 70 years concerning the keeping of these animals, leading to their presence in private homes. A strict ban has been imposed on displaying these animals on platforms like TikTok, with legal action for violators.
The wildlife department will issue possession licenses for these animals, charging a fee of Rs50,000 per animal. Minimum standards for housing them have been set, and they must be kept outside city limits. Owners will have time to relocate the animals, with non-compliance resulting in legal action and FIRs.
The newly amended Punjab Forest Transit Rules 2024 also include the establishment of checkpoints at key locations, with the transportation of forest products between sunset and sunrise now prohibited. Forest officers can shut down depots and impose fines for violations.
The new Forest Depot Rules 2024 require depot establishments to get approval from the divisional forest officer (DFO), and annual registration renewals are mandatory for depot owners. The rules also prohibit setting up sawmills or coal kilns within five miles of forest boundaries.
A special squad will be formed to enforce the new regulations, replacing the outdated Forest Depot Rules of 2013. Aurangzeb emphasized that the new rules are designed to prevent illegal transportation of forest products, enhance transparency, and safeguard forest resources, with the sunset transportation ban being a significant step in environmental protection.
