Bengaluru: What began as a series of deer-poaching incidents in Karnataka’s southern forest areas is now showing signs of spreading to the central parts of the state. Days after a forest department mobile squad busted a well-connected network allegedly involved in hunting deer and distributing venison in Hosanagar taluk of Shivamogga, officials in neighbouring Chikkamagaluru district have arrested three alleged poachers with 70kg of deer meat, raising concerns over the scale and geographical spread of illegal wildlife hunting.The latest incident is significant as it has surfaced from a territorial forest division, unlike several recent cases reported from wildlife divisions. Acting on a tip-off about a poaching operation, forest officials led by Lakkavalli range forest officer Indu GS and deputy range forest officer Channegowda GT raided the MC Halli branch of the Lakkavalli range on Thursday, when the alleged poachers were reportedly attempting to skin a hunted deer.While four persons allegedly fled the spot, the forest team managed to apprehend three members of the group and seized around 70kg of venison, including the animal’s head and legs. The officials also recovered a country-made gun, a two-wheeler and several hunting implements, including a sword, knife and dagger, along with a headlamp battery. The recovery of the firearm and equipment has led officials to suspect that the group was equipped to hunt wildlife and process the carcass for meat.A forest offence case has been registered against the accused. The three arrested persons, Kiran Kumar G and Govindaraju, residents of MC Halli quarters, Tarikere, and Manikantha D, a native of Sitarampura near Bhadravathi, were produced before a court and remanded to judicial custody.The forest department is now probing whether the accused were involved in other poaching incidents and whether more members of the network are operating in the region. The operation was conducted under the guidance of Bhadravathi division Deputy Conservator of Forests Ravindra Kumar, IFS, and Tarikere sub-division Assistant Conservator of Forests Umar Badshah. Efforts are on to trace and nab the other absconding poachers, including Praveen P, Prabhu, Chethu and Vijay, all residents of MC Halli quarters in Tarikere.The Chikkamagaluru operation comes days after the forest department’s mobile squad uncovered an alleged venison supply network at Nevatoor Anekere in Hosanagar taluk, where officials seized around 35kg of deer meat and body parts. The probe had reportedly revealed links between those hunting deer and those supplying the meat to consumers.The successive cases, along with the recent Hanur shootout involving alleged poachers, have put the spotlight on the growing challenge of illegal wildlife hunting and the need for stronger surveillance across forest areas, particularly those bordering villages and other human habitations.
