DALTONGANJ: Palamu Tiger Reserve (PTR) officials are planning to ship a deer that was rescued from a village in Kutku range to Birsa Munda Biological Park in Ranchi.

The deer had strayed into the residential locality from Betla National Park and was confined by a villager there. However, PTR officials may not take any action against Shailender K Singh as he did not intend to confine the deer and the animal was safe and unhurt with him.

The Wildlife Protection Act 1974 states that it is an offence to keep, preserve, nurse or grow any wildlife other than the habitat it is meant for. But this deer was saved by Singh and hence the provisions of this Act can be set aside, officials felt. DFO (core), PTR Premjit Anand said the deer had been recovered from the possession of a Singh who hails from Madgiri village in Bhandary block.

Quoting the villagers the DFO said the deer had lost its way in the village. It used to graze with the cattle, Singh villager owned and returned home along with them.

Anand also said that some co-villagers complained to PTR about Singh possessing the deer and demanded action against him.

The PTR officials investigated the matter and found that Singh did not intend to cause harm to the creature rather he was protecting it from potential dangers like poaching and selling. Anand made it clear that the PTR management has decided not to take any action against Singh on reasonable grounds. However the problem of the PTR does not end here. The deer has become so domesticated that it cannot be released back into the Betla park anymore.

Hence this deer is to be sent to Bhagwan Birsa zoo in Ranchi and efforts are on to ship it from here to Ranchi for which the permission is being sought from the top officials.