New Delhi: Delhi govt has nominated Wildlife SOS, a city-based wildlife conservation organisation, which is under investigation for its alleged involvement in poaching of leopards in Madhya Pradesh, for a set on its wildlife board. The decision was communicated in a gazette notification on Oct 27.After TOI approached Delhi govt for comment, environment minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said the proposal to include Wildlife SOS was moved before the allegations came to light and the forest department ended its association with Wildlife SOS Monday. Sirsa said a formal order would be issued soon.The 30-member board was recently reconstituted with the chief minister as its chairperson, the forest and wildlife minister as vice-chairperson, and the chief wildlife warden as member secretary.The board includes representatives from three wildlife organisations: Wildlife SOS, Wildlife Trust of India and WWF-India.Madhya Pradesh State Tiger Strike Force (STSF) is investigating Wildlife SOS after 10 leopard skins were recovered in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, which investigators have traced back to Madhya Pradesh. STSF registered a forest offence report on July 30 and subsequently arrested several people in connection with the alleged poaching network. Two Wildlife SOS-linked persons — a field worker and informer and an organisation official — were arrested. It also questioned Wildlife SOS CEO Karthick Satyanarayan.Sirsa told TOI that Wildlife SOS had worked with the Delhi forest department on wildlife rescue since 2018. “The proposal to include it as a member of the state board was moved in Feb 2026, and the final proposal went to the competent authority for approval in July,” he said.“It has now come to our knowledge that some cases were registered in Aug 2026 in Madhya Pradesh relating to the NGO’s alleged involvement in wildlife crime. In light of this, Wildlife SOS will be dropped from the board proposal, and its association with the forest department ends from today (Monday) itself,” said Sirsa.Meanwhile, in a statement, Wildlife SOS said had assisted in the Madhya Padesh investigation. “With regard to the alleged poaching of 10 leopard skins, Wildlife SOS provided assistance and crucial information that contributed to the identification and subsequent arrest of the alleged offenders,” it said.“There may have been some miscommunication between the forest department authorities concerned regarding the sequence of information-sharing,” it stated. While the matter concerning wildlife surveillance and enforcement procedures remains sub judice, “we have full faith in the judicial process and respect the proceedings”, the NGO added.The board also comprises two MLAs, professors from JNU and Delhi University, secretary (environment & forests), principal chief conservator of forests, director of animal husbandry, director of fisheries department, and a representative from Botanical Survey of India and Zoological Survey of India. It includes a Delhi Police representative not below the rank of joint commissioner and an armed forces representative of at least brigadier rank nominated by central govt.
