Wildlife Week 2026: RiWild launches Maharashtra campaign against illegal keeping of wild animals as pets

RiWild Sanctuary and Charitable Trust has launched a statewide awareness campaign during Wildlife Week 2026 to highlight the illegal trade and keeping of native wild birds turtles and other wildlife species as petsThe campaign was formally launched by Maharashtra Principal Chief Conservator of Forests PCCF Srinivas Reddy who unveiled a series of awareness posters featuring wildlife species commonly trafficked and illegally kept as pets in IndiaMaharashtra Principal Chief Conservator of Forests PCCF Srinivas Reddy centre Pic RiWild SanctuaryPosters to be distributed across 500 veterinary clinicsAs part of the initiative the posters will be distributed to more than 500 veterinary clinics across Maharashtra The campaign aims to use veterinary clinics as points of public awareness enabling veterinarians to educate pet owners about native wildlife species that cannot legally be kept as pets as well as the legal provisions penalties and other consequences associated with their illegal possession and tradeDr Rina Dev president of RiWild Sanctuary and Charitable Trust said veterinarians have an important role to play in educating pet owners particularly those who unknowingly purchase wildlife through the illegal pet tradeldquoIt is important for veterinarians to raise awareness among pet owners as many people unknowingly purchase wildlife species that are illegal to keep as pets and subsequently do not know what to do with them Unfortunately many of these animals are eventually abandonedrdquo Dev saidShe cited instances of Indian Star Tortoises being abandoned on highways and dumped in municipal garbage binsCampaign targets illegal wildlife tradeRiWild said growing demand for wild animals as exotic or unusual pets contributes to a cycle of illegal capture trafficking improper care and eventual abandonmentVeterinarians the organisation said can help break this cycle by educating owners and directing them to the appropriate authorities and rehabilitation organisations when wildlife is encounteredThe campaign also seeks to address the misconception that native wildlife can legally be kept as pets simply because the animals are readily available through the illegal pet tradeThe posters provide information to help veterinarians and members of the public identify commonly trafficked species and understand the legal consequences of possessing or trading themldquoAwareness is one of the most important tools in preventing wildlife trafficking If a person knows that an animal cannot legally be kept as a pet before purchasing it we can prevent the animal from entering the illegal trade in the first placerdquo Dev saidWildlife possession can attract legal actionThrough the campaign RiWild Sanctuary and Charitable Trust aims to create a network of informed veterinarians and responsible pet owners to help prevent the illegal acquisition and abandonment of Indias native wildlifeAdvocate Pawan Sharma president of RAWW said several commonly kept wildlife species are protected under Schedule I and Schedule II of the Wild Life Protection Act 1972ldquoKeeping possessing buying selling or trading such wildlife without lawful authorisation can attract legal consequences under the Act It is important for the public to understand that being commonly available does not necessarily make a wild species legal to keep as a petrdquo Sharma said