Chamarajanagar: Poaching appears to have continued in the Hanur Wildlife Range despite a recent armed encounter between suspected poachers and Forest Department personnel, with a Sambar deer being shot and its carcass found chopped into three pieces on September 1.
The latest incident was reported barely a fortnight after three suspected poachers were killed in an exchange of fire with Forest Department personnel in the Holemuridatti beat of Chikkalluru Reserved Forest under the Hanur Wildlife Range on August 15. The Forest Department has now launched an investigation into the latest killing and deployed a Dog Squad to trace the unidentified suspects.
Sambar deer carcass found near Uduthorehalla
According to the report, Forest officials and staff from the Hanur Wildlife Division were conducting a night patrol near the Uduthorehalla Reservoir Gate on September 1 when they noticed four suspected poachers in the Uduthorehalla Backwaters area.
The men were allegedly carrying guns and sacks on their heads. When they spotted the Forest Department personnel, the four suspects reportedly dropped the sacks and fled into the darkness.
Forest staff then inspected the abandoned sacks and found the carcass of a Sambar deer inside. The animal had been chopped into three pieces and packed into three separate sacks.
The Forest Department’s preliminary examination reportedly indicated that the deer had been shot using a country-made gun. Its neck had also been slit before the carcass was divided into pieces.
The recovery has once again highlighted concerns over wildlife poaching in the forest ranges of Chamarajanagar district.
Incident comes soon after August encounter
The latest suspected poaching incident comes soon after a serious confrontation between Forest Department personnel and suspected poachers.
On August 15, three suspected poachers were killed in an exchange of fire with Forest Department personnel in the Holemuridatti beat of Chikkalluru Reserved Forest, which falls under the Hanur Wildlife Range.
Despite that incident, Forest officials reportedly encountered another group of four suspected poachers within weeks. While the suspects escaped from the Uduthorehalla Backwaters area, the abandoned sacks led officials to the remains of the Sambar deer.
The sequence of incidents has raised concerns about the continuing presence of organised or armed hunting groups in the forest landscape.
However, the identities of the four people who fled on September 1 have not been established, and the Forest Department’s investigation is still underway.
Sambar deer protected under wildlife law
The Sambar deer is a protected wild animal under India’s Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. The species is also classified as vulnerable on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, according to the report.
The killing of a protected wild animal can attract serious legal consequences under India’s wildlife protection framework.
In the present case, the Forest Department has registered a wildlife crime report against unidentified persons. Since no suspects have been arrested in connection with the September 1 incident so far, the investigation will focus on identifying those involved and establishing the circumstances surrounding the killing.
Dog Squad deployed to trace suspects
Following the recovery of the carcass, the Forest Department has pressed a Dog Squad into service to help trace the suspects who fled from the spot.
The abandoned sacks, the firearm evidence and other material recovered from the location could assist investigators in establishing the route taken by the suspects and identifying those involved.
Forest officials seized the deer meat and began further investigation into the incident.
The operation was conducted by officials and staff of the Hanur Wildlife Division, including in-charge Deputy Conservator of Forests (DCF) Viraj Shrikanth Hosur, Range Forest Officer H.N. Mahesh and Deputy Range Forest Officer S.B. Nandish.
Forest protection remains a challenge
The latest incident highlights the challenges faced by Forest Department personnel while protecting wildlife across the extensive forest areas of Chamarajanagar district.
Night patrols are particularly important in preventing illegal hunting, as poachers can take advantage of darkness and remote forest terrain to enter protected areas. The presence of country-made firearms in the latest case has also added to the seriousness of the incident.
The Hanur Wildlife Range forms part of an important wildlife landscape in the region. Effective patrolling, intelligence gathering and coordination among forest staff are therefore crucial to preventing hunting and illegal wildlife activities.
The fact that the suspected poachers abandoned their sacks and escaped when they encountered Forest Department personnel also indicates the risks faced by forest staff during patrol operations.
Investigation underway
The Forest Department is now working to identify the four suspected poachers who fled from the Uduthorehalla Backwaters area.
Investigators are expected to examine the circumstances surrounding the killing, the weapon allegedly used, the movement of the suspects and any possible links to other wildlife crimes in the region.
The department’s decision to deploy a Dog Squad is part of the effort to trace the suspects from the location where the carcass was recovered.
The latest case also comes at a time when forest officials are maintaining heightened vigilance following the August 15 encounter.
Wildlife protection under renewed focus
The killing of the Sambar deer has once again brought the issue of poaching in the Hanur forest region into focus. While the suspects involved in the September 1 incident remain unidentified, the Forest Department has registered a wildlife crime report and begun efforts to track them down.
The case also underlines the importance of continued night patrols and enforcement in protected forest areas. With investigations underway, the Forest Department will now have to determine who was behind the latest killing and whether the incident is connected to any wider poaching activity in the region.