PETA announces Rs 50,000 reward for information on missing rhesus macaque

While the hunt for rehesus macque (monkey) who was in a possession of a tattoo artist Kamaljit Singh is still on, PETA has announced an award of Rs 50,000 for anyone who helps in finding the animal.

Chandigarh: People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) on Saturday announced a reward of Rs 50,000 for information leading to the discovery of a missing rhesus macaque who was illegally held captive for over a year by tattoo artist Kamaljit Singh.

According to PETA, Singh had and his studio manager Deepak Vohra had held captive rhesus macaque, which is a protected species under the Wildlife Protection Act (WPA), 1972.

"People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India is offering a reward of Rs 50,000 for information leading to the discovery of a missing rhesus macaque - a protected species under the Wildlife Protection Act (WPA), 1972 - who was reportedly illegally held captive for over a year by tattoo artist Kamaljit Singh (alias Kamz Inkzone) and his studio manager, Deepak Vohra," said Garima Ozas, PETA, Emergency Response coordinator.

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The tattoo artist Kamaljit Singh and his manager Deepak Vohra, accused of illegally keeping the monkey in captivity, were arrested on August 19. The duo was later released on bail after their defense counsel argued in the court that the required protocols were not followed at the time of the arrest of the two persons.

However, they confessed that monkey was in their possession but when they came to know that keeping a monkey is a crime under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, they released the animal into the wild. However, officials of the UT wildlife wing believe that the monkey is still in the possession of the two suspects.

With agency inputs