Petr Švácha is a Czech entomologist with the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic.[1] In 2008, Švácha was arrested by Indian authorities for collecting insect specimens in Singalila National Park without proper permits.[2][3] A group of Indian scientists responded by launching a petition in their support which ultimately gathered more than 1,200 signatures from leading entomologists worldwide. However, Švácha was fined, while his assistant Emil Kučera was sentenced to three years imprisonment[4][5] but fled home to the Czech Republic prior to sentencing.[6] Their conviction was the first under India's Biological Diversity Act of 2002.[4]

Švácha is editor-in-chief of the European Journal of Entomology.[7]

References

  1. ↑ Personnel listing Archived 2012-07-31 at archive.today from Institute of Entomology, ASCR.
  2. ↑ Hulpachová, Markéta (July 2, 2008), "Czech entomologists arrested in India", The Prague Post.
  3. ↑ "The Case of Petr Svacha: What ails entomology in India?", Nature India, August 12, 2008, doi:10.1038/nindia.2008.257.
  4. 1 2 "Czech biologists protests against Indian jail term", Wildlife Extra.
  5. ↑ "Czech entomologist jailed in India", Daily Times (Pakistan), September 12, 2008.
  6. ↑ "Bailed bug collector takes flight - police", Independent Online (South Africa), October 29, 2008.
  7. ↑ European Journal of Entomology editorial board, retrieved 2009-12-26.
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