In a significant operation against wildlife crime, authorities arrested 14 individuals suspected of poaching the Himalayan barking deer in Uttarakhand’s Khankhara range. The arrests occurred as the alleged poachers allegedly prepared to cook the deer, which they had hunted the day prior.
Sub-Divisional Forest Officer Devendra Singh Pundir confirmed that the accused hailed from the Kondli-Kwali village, located near the Dudhatoli forest area. The operation was executed following a tip-off, leading to a coordinated raid by a Khankhara range officer.
The Himalayan barking deer, a protected species, inhabits altitudes ranging from 3,000 to 8,000 feet in Uttarakhand. Concerted conservation efforts over recent years have resulted in increased sightings of this unique species, emphasizing the ongoing need for its protection.
(With inputs from agencies.)