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 [ citation needed] 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]
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 [ citation needed] 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]