The Telangana Forest department has apprehended two persons from Hyderabad and Medak respectively, for their involvement in wildlife poaching and sale of the meat. They seized carcasses of many wild animals and birds from them, including those of two black bucks.
Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Manoranjan Bhanja shared the details at a press conference here on Tuesday, in the presence of other forest officials involved in the undercover operation.
As per the details, the South Zone police task force apprehended a person Syed Zameer on Monday from Falaknuma and seized animal and bird carcasses from him, before handing him over to the Forest department for prosecution.
The material seized included a male black buck carcass and parts of another male, 24 partridges, seven black-naped hares, one darter or snake bird, and two unknown water birds.
The person apprehended said he was merely selling meat, and gave tipoff on the supplier from Medak district, named Rajesh.
“A team of our officials went to the village Dandupally in Toopran mandal of Medak district, posing as prospective buyers. The person, Rajesh, was approached and apprehended along with three partridges,” Divisional Forest Officer of Hyderabad, C.P.Vinod Kumar, said.
Further searches in Zameer’s room in Jahanuma on Monday revealed more meat stuffed in his refrigerator, officials said. Officials also raided his shop at Murgi Chowk near Charminar, and confiscated birds including an eagle, 30 Munias, and six spotted doves.
Mr.Zameer had been in the business of wild animals’ meat for three to four years, officials said.
