Forest officials apprehended four individuals on Saturday for suspected poaching in the Kannivadi Forest Range of Dindigul district. The team, led by forester Vetrivel, intercepted the men carrying a suspicious gunny bag during a routine patrol.

Upon inspection, the authorities discovered the meat and skin of a Sambar deer along with a double-barrel gun inside the bag. The arrested have been identified as Gopinath from Chinnalapatti, Velankanni of Kalikkampatti, Manickam from Vellodu, and Anthony from Amali Nagar.

The arrests and confiscation were carried out under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. The Sambar deer is listed as a vulnerable species on the IUCN Red List and enjoys protection under Schedule III of the Act, emphasizing the importance of wildlife conservation in the region.