Following his controversial selfie with lions at the iconic Gir Wildlife Sanctuary last month, Indian cricketer Ravindra Jadeja has recently recorded his statement with the Gujarat Forest Department. The left-arm spinner had generated a huge outrage by posing to the camera in front of lions alongside his newly married wife Reeva Solanki.
As a consequence, he got himself in trouble for allegedly flouting the forest rules.
AP Singh, Chief Conservator of Forests (CCF) in Junagadh, confirmed to PTI, “After the matter came to our knowledge a month back, we summoned Jadeja to record his statement with us. He recently gave his statement. We are in the process of preparing the final report, based on which action will be taken.”
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The Gujarat Forest Department had ordered an inquiry into the incident for not taking the necessary precautions and taking photographs after getting down from the vehicle. According to the prevailing regulations, tourists visiting the sanctuary are not allowed to descend from safari jeeps.
Singh asserted, “This was a serious issue, as such acts are a clear violation of Wildlife Protection Act. We will take action based on the report, which will be prepared and submitted within next few days.”
There are presently 523 Asiatic lions at the Gir Forest National Park, an increase of 411 from a 2010 census. However, they have been listed as an endangered species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
Meanwhile, Jadeja himself has been currently preparing for the upcoming four-match Test series in the Caribbean which kick starts from the 21st onwards.
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