Catholic priest, nun arrested for killing white crane chicks

(August 17, 2012) A Catholic priest and a nun in northern India’s Uttarakhand state have spent more than a week in jail for violating the country’s wildlife and trees acts when they allegedly killed more than 250 white crane chicks while trimming a tree. The tree at Prabhat Tara Junior School at Chorgalia had branched over a water tank and bird droppings had posed a serious health problem for the school’s more than 500 students, especially during mid-day meals, explained Father Pius Menezes, director of social services for the Diocese of Bareilly. On August 8, the Forest Department of Uttarakhand state arrested Fr. Simon D’Cunha, the school manager, and Sr. Dina of the Queen of the Apostles congregation, the school principal. Fr. D’Cunha ordered the trimming but was not at the school when the tree branches were cut, Fr. Menezes said. However, Amit Varma, Divisional Forest Officer, held the two responsible saying they should have taught their children how to protect wildlife by saving the birds. The chicks would have flown away in two weeks’ time he said. The forest official alleged the school authorities had tried to cover up the matter instead of apologizing. The suspects are due to appear Friday for a bail hearing.