Mysuru: Mahouts suspended for alleged involvement in wild boar poaching

H N Manju, mahout of elephant Maasthi and J D Manju, mahout of elephant Ramaiah (both from Nagapura tribal settlement), reportedly joined hands with Manju, a Neralakuppe (Hunsur)-based poacher to hunt the wild boars.

[Representational Image] Wild Boar. 

Credit: Pexel

Mysuru, DHNS: In a likely example of the 'fence eating the grass' situation, two Forest department staffers - elephant mahouts - were involved in the poaching of wild animals. 

DCF of Nagarahole Tiger Reserve P A Seema has suspended two mahouts of Doddaharave Elephant camp under Hunsur division of NTR, for allegedly involving in poaching a wild boar, along with a poacher. 

ACF, Hunsur forest division, N Lakshmikanth informed this. 

H N Manju, mahout of elephant Maasthi and J D Manju, mahout of elephant Ramaiah (both from Nagapura tribal settlement) allegedly joined hands with Manju, a Neralakuppe (Hunsur)-based poacher to hunt the wild boars. The name of all three accused is Manju. 

The ACF informed that Doddaharave forest DRFO found a gun in the quarters of a mahout.

"On enquiry, he found that the mahouts were involved in hunting wild boar, along with the poacher (owner of the gun) at the border of Doddaharave forest, in March. The poacher is absconding. A case has been registered under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, on April 1. A charge sheet will be filed before the court. Such a crime by the staff of NTR has happened for the first time.  We plan to recommend the dismissal of the accused Mahouts," Lakshmikanth said.