Mahouts bathe an elephant on Saturday ahead of the Sonepur fair next week. Picture by Nagendra Kumar Singh

Patna, Nov. 1: The environment and forests department would keep a tight vigil on the sale of wild animals at the Sonepur Mela this year.

Preparations for the month-long cattle fair, popularly known as Harihar Kshetra Mela, are in the final stages and would be inaugurated at Kali Ghat at the confluence of Ganga and Gandak rivers in Sonepur on November 5.

B.A. Khan, the principal chief conservator of forest-cum-additional chief wildlife warden of Bihar, said: “Special vigil would be kept on the bird market to prohibit trade of protected birds. No elephant from other states would be allowed in the fair without prior transit permit issued from state chief wildlife warden.”

For welfare of captive elephants, Wildlife Trust of India would also hold the 13th annual health check-up camp at the fair. Veterinary experts from WTI would give advice to mahouts and elephant owners on scientific husbandry and management practices.

State tourism minister Javed Iqbal Ansari would inaugurate the fair, which has adapted to the changing times with stalls of fast-moving consumer durables. The area available to set up theatres, non-government stalls, book fair and Disney Land among others on nakhas land is 4.74 acres.

Adland Publicity Pvt. Ltd of Calcutta would look after publicity of the event, while Impact Communications, Delhi, would help allotment of the stalls at the fair.

On regulation of animal trade, principal chief conservator of forest Khan said: “Any kind of trade of wild animals is banned at Sonepur cattle fair. Officials concerned have been directed to keep a close vigil. Special emphasis is being laid on the bird market and the elephant area. Flex posters are being put at the bird market displaying the list of endangered bird species, which are not to be traded at the fair.”

Contrary to the claims of forest officials, an official survey of the Sonepur cattle fair, led by TRAFFIC-a strategic alliance of World Wide Fund for Nature and International Union for Conservation of Nature in November-December 2013, stated unauthorised sale of several wild animals at the fair.

The TRAFFIC report claimed that the several indigenous bird species, including the rose ringed parakeet, Himalayan bulbul and common myna among others, are illegally traded at the bird market at the cattle fair.

On the elephants at the fair, Khan said: “Trade of elephants has been stopped at Sonepur cattle fair since 2002 in pursuance of the Wildlife (Protection) Act. Accordingly, there is complete prohibition on transfer of ownership certificate among the elephant owners as well.”

The industry department, along with its training institution for artisans, Upendra Maharathi Shilp Anusandhan Sansthan, would set up an art and craft village over an acre at the fair.