The arrest of 11 persons on the charge of hunting two sambars in Kemmannugundi forest area of the district has raised concern about the threat posed to wildlife by the urban populace visiting forest areas.
Activists working for wildlife protection, who were also involved in the operation to nab the alleged hunters, have appealed to the Forest Department to take stern action to prevent hunting in the district.
In March 2014, the Forest Department had arrested seven poachers near Bababudangiri Hills in Chikkamagaluru taluk. The accused had shot at a deer.
In the latest incident, the group is said to have gone hunting near Nettichowka village and gunned down the two wild animals. They slaughtered one and decided to leave the place as it was already dawn. They were caught while transporting the carcases in two vehicles, said a press release issued by the Forest Department. Officers of Tanigebailu Wildlife Range have arrested 11 of the 12 allegedly involved.
Rafeek, the prime accused, a resident of Richmond Town in Bengaluru, managed to escape. It is suspected that he ran away with the rifles used to hunt down the deer.
The department has also announced a cash prize of ₹10,000 for the staff who helped nab the gang. Range Forest Officer M. Ullas and his team were involved in the operation. Environmentalists D.V. Girish and G.K. Veeresh also helped in the operation, the press note said.
Mr. Girish, of Bhadra Wildlife Conservation Trust, said those arrested were all educated. “One of the accused is a sharpshooter, who has won many prizes in shooting, while another is a postgraduate in environmental science. One is a software engineer. It is disappointing that they chose hunting as a way to welcome the new year,” he said.
Chikkamagaluru is among the major tourist attractions for many in big cities such as Bengaluru. Almost all the homestays and resorts in the district were fully booked on New Year’s Eve.
