Gangtok:Three French nationals who were charged under the Wildlife Protection Act after they were caught collecting butterflies, moths and beetles in a reserve forest in West Sikkim would be asked to leave Sikkim as Foreign Registration office has been asked to cancel their inner line permit by Forest officials .Inner line permit is required to visit Sikkim by foreigners.
Forest officials picked up the trio on last Friday evening. While they were not formally arrested, but were holed up in a hotel in Gayzing, the West district headquarters.The three has been brought to Gangtok on july23 from West Sikkim.
Ludivine Jeannine Charlotte Popihn, a 21-year-old woman, and her two male companions, Mathew Grevereau Francois, 21, and Arnaud Jean Raymond Popihn, 23, were collecting the specimens at Budang reserve forest near Soreng.They were in possession of 41 specimens, which are protected under various schedules of the Wildlife Protection Act.
The three were detained in Budang reserve forest near Soreng. They say they were collecting the insects only for research purposes and were not involved in wholesale theft. The three accused say that they are students of ecology and were collecting the samples for study purpose.
Chief wildlife warden at the forest secretariat here in Gangtok during investigation came to conclude that the specimens in their possession were not rare and endangered species therefore no charges or formal arrests are being made by state government. During probe it came to light that trio were in Sikkim as a part of an educational study tour of Himalayan butterflies, moths ,beetles and other Himalayan species and Their tour was organised by a French Institute .However the enquiry concluded yesterday despite the da being a state holiday and forest officials found the trio guilty of violation of Wildlife laws and therefore a fine of Rs.25,000/- slapped on each which hasto be deposited by tomorrow failing which they would be liable to face prosecution
Seven years ago two Russians were arrested under similar charges, and subsequent investigations found that they had been collecting rare species of butterflies.
They served a short prison sentence.
They served a short prison sentence.
