Hyderabad: Just three days after authorities arrested six poachers in Mulugu district for killing a Chital (spotted deer) using electrified wire snares, another incident has emerged in KB Asifabad district. This time, 15 people are
involved, using similar snares to trap and kill two Chital for their meat.
Both incidents were brought to light during the ongoing 'Catch The Trap' drive conducted by the wildlife wing of the Telangana Forest Department across the state. The initiative revealed numerous electrified and
non-electrified wire snares, as well as various other traps in the state's forest areas.
Telangana Chief Wildlife Warden Mohan Chandra Pargaien commented on the prevalence of wildlife poaching, stating, "Though these are just two incidents, the number of snares and traps we are finding shows how rampant
wildlife poaching has been in the state over the past few years."
Asifabad divisional forest officer Neeraj Tibrewal revealed that the deer were killed approximately four days ago, and the incident was discovered during the combing of forests as part of the Catch The Trap drive.
Following the discovery of 2 kg of spotted deer meat at Jadhav Balu's house in Chinthakunta village, three additional people — Rajesh, Buggaiah, and Dinesh — were taken into custody. It was found that they had set up
electrified lines around agriculture fields, trapping and killing two deer.
In total, 31 individuals were involved, and 15 prime suspects were taken into custody and produced before the court on Thursday, subsequently remanded to 14 days of judicial custody.
Given that the Kagaznagar forests in Asifabad district are home to nine tigers and form part of the important tiger corridor connecting Maharashtra and Telangana, concerns about wildlife poaching, which could impact the
tigers, have risen. The official pointed to the importance of daily monitoring of the tigers' movement through close observation of pugmarks or camera trap images. If there is no evidence of tiger presence for two or
three days, officials contact Maharashtra wildlife authorities to check if the tiger has entered their state.
