Four deer carcasses, 74 kg meat seized as Karnataka forest officers bust poaching racket

Bengaluru: In one of the biggest seizures, forest personnel in Bengaluru busted a poaching racket and seized carcass of four spotted deer, 74 kg meat, guns and booked a case against three individuals.

Based on credible information, a team comprising personnel from Bengaluru Urban and vigilance wing intercepted an Indica car (KA 05/AG 1302) near the Bannerghatta-Nice Road junction.

Upon searching the vehicle, carcasses of four dead spotted deer and wild boar were found. "During the interrogation, the accused, Pratap (son of Chinnaswamy, aged 31 years) led the team to a nearby shed in CK Palya. A search of the second Indica car yielded about 74 kg of meat, one double-barrel gun, one single-barrel gun, and 10 cartridges," an official said.

Officers also seized another Indica car and a motorcycle belonging to another accused, Balaraju (son of Philip). The premises belonged to Bhimappa. Another accused, Ramesh, was managing it. Apart from guns, additional materials, including knives, weighing machines, and the skin of a spotted deer, were also found.

Officials said owner and the person managing the premises were absconding. Post-mortem examinations have been conducted, and samples have been collected for test. As materials seized indicated at a racket officials said the investigation will continue to get to the roots.

While the wildlife crimes in the rural areas are attributed to animosity against animals over damage to property and loss of cattle, in urban areas it is driven by the high price associated with bush meat and exotic value of wildlife parts.