The Tripura government has sacked Pravin Lal Aggarwal, the Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, on allegations that he misled state officials about the naming of animals in the Sepahijala species Sanctuary and Zoo. The decision has drawn international attention.The choice to name a lioness Sita and another lion Akbar, which sparked a court dispute and public uproar, is what gave rise to the controversy.Renowned for its wide array of animals, the Sepahijala Wildlife Sanctuary and Zoo recently welcomed new members, which include two Royal Bengal tigers, leopards, golden and silver pheasants, peacocks, and mountain mynas.The Central Zoo Authority (CZA) established standards for the transfer of these animals, and they were done so in order to improve visitor experiences and add to the genetic pool.But the collaboration between the North Bengal Zoo in Siliguri and the Sepahijala Zoo, which featured spectacled monkeys, leopard cats, black bucks, and a lion couple named Sita and Akbar, took an unexpected turn.The naming of the lion couple led the Bengali wing of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) filed a judicial challenge in response to the naming of the lion couple, claiming that animals shouldnt be named after personalities or deities.The argument later was upheld by the circuit court of the Calcutta High Court in Jalpaiguri, which has repercussions for the administrative and wildlife management departments of the state. After investigation, it came in to light that Aggarwal played an important role in naming the lions. As the situation unfolds, it will remain significant to see, how the zoo authorities will navigate these challenging waters and what changes will be implemented to prevent similar issues in the future.
