The Forest Department has sent for forensic analysis bones and claws suspected to have been taken out from a tiger carcass by two residents of Mavanatham settlement in Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve.
The offenders under the Wildlife Act, nabbed by the Department on Tuesday, reportedly showed the spot from where they had taken the claws and bones from a putrefied carcass they believed to be that of a tiger.
District Forest Officer of Sathyamangalam Division K. Rajkumar said there was scope to determine if the carcass was that of a tiger or a leopard by analysing particles of marrow in the bone. The department was also investigating if the animal had died a natural death or had been poisoned for poaching.
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Since Selvakumar and Palanichamy were full-time tractor drivers, the Forest department based on initial questioning ruled out their involvement in any organised poaching. Selvakumar was arrested earlier this month for possessing bones. Subsequently, the Forest Department cornered Palanichamy who had in possession 17 claws.
They had reportedly confessed that the animal parts were meant for sale to one Selvakumar belonging to Karnataka.
The arrest of Selvakumar, a suspected poacher based in BRT (Biligiri Rangaswamy Temple) Tiger Reserve, by the Forest Department of Karnataka led to the arrest of the duo in STR.
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Even if they had not killed the animal, Sekar and Palanisamy had committed the offence by indulging in illegal trade of wild life derivatives sourced in core area. Those possessing animal parts beyond 48 hours after finding them are deemed to have committed an offence under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, the DFO said.
Interrogation of Selvakumar by the Karnataka Forest Department would throw more light on the trade of animal parts, the DFO said.