Wildlife Crime: Odisha YouTuber Held for Viral Video
Summary: A YouTuber from Odisha was arrested for posting a viral video showing him cooking a rare monitor lizard, violating the Wildlife Protection Act.
What lengths will people go to for online fame? In Odisha, one man crossed a legal line for YouTube views, and paid the price.
Cooking a Protected Species: How It All Started
A man, Roop Nayak, a resident of Asanabani village in Mayurbhanj, Odisha, was on the way from his in-law’s place in Bhadrak, when he chanced upon a dead monitor lizard on the road, near the Banta area. He took it home, cleaned it, cut it, cooked it and posted the entire activity online on social media. The monitor lizard is a rare and protected species and not meant for hunting/poaching.
Forest Department Acts: The Legal Fallout
The Forest officials registered a case against Nayak, under the Wildlife Protection Act, after the clip went viral, and he was arrested in Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district.
“The hunting, killing, or consuming any protected or endangered species is a serious crime under the law, punishable by both imprisonment and fines”, as per the Forest officials.
Social Media Backlash: Public Outrage Erupts
The video went viral in no time, garnered a lot of attention, and invoked a lot of social media disapproval.
Confession and Consequences: What Nayak Admitted
The accused, Nayak, was questioned and admitted his actions, whereafter he was arrested under multiple sections of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
Wildlife Protection Act Explained: Why It’s Serious offence
According to the forest officials, the video showing the accused cooking the meat of the endangered monitor lizard was posted online with the intention of promoting his YouTube channel and earning money. This being a serious offence, has led to a case has been registered against Nayak and he will be taken to Court.
The Dark Side of Social Media: How Far Will You Go?
There have been instances where these “social media influencers” have been driven to self-harm, even suicide, following a drop in the number of “followers”. Let us ask ourselves, what is society coming to? Are we living only for such so-called “followers” that a drop in them can affect us so drastically? Are we so involved in the virtual world that we cannot differentiate it from the real world? Are we so intellectually challenged? Why are we so? Ponder on this.
"All this for a few likes and views? People are losing their minds over social media fame."
In the pursuit of online validation, are we forgetting what truly matters? Social media popularity is fleeting, but the consequences of unlawful acts are real and lasting. Are we living in a society where virtual applause outweighs moral responsibility? Think about it—are likes worth a life?
Inputs from various media sources.
- Health News and Updates
- 23 August 2025
- 07:00
