ADILABAD: The dreaded Pardhi poacher’s gang is reportedly on the prowl since the past two months in Mancherial district.
Nearly 20 cows and bullocks have been mistakenly trapped in iron trap clamps put up by the poachers in the Hajipur forest area and some of them died. It is said that the traps were set up for tigers by the Pardhi gang.
The cows and bullocks that went into the forests for grazing from Narsing-apur, Gudipeta and Haji-pur mandal headquarters were accidentally trapped. Many of them were saved by cattle grazers.
It is said that Pardhi poacher gangs of Madhya Pradesh use this modus operandi for poaching tigers. A tiger was moving in the forests of Pangidi Madara, Tiryani and Ryalighadpur in Mancherial district.
Forests officials admit in private that the Pardhi gangs have been active these days in the old Adilabad district due to lack of measures to protect tigers and panthers.
It is said that the tiger which was found dead in the Pinnaram in Kotapalli mandal was electrocuted when it came into contact with the live electric wire put up by poachers targeting wild boars. It is not sure whether the electric wire was put up by poachers or local farmers.
Distressed farmers are putting up live electric fencing to protect their crop from wild boars. The government has given permission for culling wild boars and licensed shooters. This move drew criticism from wildlife activists and environmentalists and subsequently the move was shelved.
