MP Forest Officer Suspended After Viral Video Shows Him Feeding 'Poha' to Sambar Deer as Bollywood Song Plays (Watch)

A senior forest range officer posted at the Satpura Tiger Reserve (STR) in Madhya Pradesh has been placed under suspension after a video of him feeding poha (flattened rice) to a wild sambar deer surfaced on social media. Senior officials took disciplinary action against the officer on Thursday night, citing gross negligence and a direct violation of standard wildlife management protocols.

The disciplinary action followed the circulation of a 22-second video filmed in the Churna forest range. In the footage, the Bori range in-charge is seen sitting beneath a tree with a plate of poha, hand-feeding the adult sambar deer and patting it while a Bollywood song plays in the background. According to forest department officials, the officer had reportedly rescued the animal recently. Maharashtra: Foresters Arrest 5 for Poaching Sambar Deer, Cooking Its Meat in Kolhapur.

Following an internal review, STR Field Director Rakesh Nanda issued a suspension order on Thursday night. The order noted that the officer—who served as the in-charge assistant director at Itarsi and superintendent of the Bori range—failed to discharge his institutional duties, demonstrating "gross negligence and insensitivity" in his professional responsibilities.

The footage sparked sharp criticism from wildlife conservationists and environmental activists, who warned against the long-term dangers of treating wild animals like pets. Experts point out that hand-feeding wild animals causes them to lose their natural fear of humans, a process known as habituation. "This incident is a serious violation of established wildlife management practices," said environmental activist Ajay Dubey, who had formally sought disciplinary action against the officer.

Official Caught On Camera Feeding Poha To Wild Sambar Deer

Shocking lawlessness in Satpura Tiger Reserve! A Forest SDO caught on camera feeding/taming a wild deer(Sambhar). This is a blatant violation of Sec 9 & Sec 38J of Wildlife Protection Act (WPA), 1972. Officers are meant to enforce the law, not treat wild fauna as private pets!… pic.twitter.com/OYGHyGZHJ4

— Ajay Dubey (@Ajaydubey9) June 22, 2026

Wildlife experts emphasize that when animals associate humans with food, they are much more likely to venture out of protected reserve areas and enter nearby human settlements. This behavioral shift significantly elevates the risk of human-wildlife conflict, vehicle collisions on nearby roads, and exposure to illegal poaching.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 27, 2026 08:36 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).