1 week ago
Wild Animal Meat Demand Fuels Weekend Poaching in Karnataka
Wildlife activists say more wild animals are being illegally hunted on weekends.
The animals reportedly include deer, gaur and wild boars.
Some of the meat is said to be sent to Bengaluru and Kerala.
Activists say people hunt for meat because it can bring quick money.
They report that poachers use guns, electric wires and traps.
Officials say forest staff are busy dealing with animals entering villages.
A forest department official said the total number of cases is not yet known.
Activists also allege that some forest guards may ignore or assist poaching, but this allegation is not independently confirmed in the report.
Wildlife activists report increased weekend poaching of spotted deer, Indian gaurs and wild boars near protected areas.
Activists say deer meat is transported to Bengaluru, while gaur meat is clandestinely supplied to Kerala.
Reported prices are Rs 1,200 per kilogram for venison and Rs 1,000 for gaur meat.
Poachers allegedly use firearms, electrocution and snares to kill animals straying beyond reserves.
The Karnataka Forest Department says the statewide number of incidents is not immediately available and may take a month to compile.
- Who
- Wildlife activists, alleged poachers, forest officials and forest guards are involved in or commenting on the reported activity.
- What
- A reported rise in the illegal hunting and meat trafficking of wild herbivorous animals.
- Where
- Around protected areas in Karnataka, including the Mysuru, Kodagu and Nagarahole areas, with meat reportedly reaching Bengaluru and Kerala.
- When
- The reported activity is especially increasing during weekends; a forest department official commented on Friday.
- Why
- Activists and a forest officer attribute it to demand for meat, quick profits and poachers exploiting personnel focused on human-wildlife conflicts.
Activists’ and field observers’ concerns
Forest department’s official position
Scale of poaching
Activists’ and field observers’ concerns
Wildlife activists say poaching has steadily increased, particularly on weekends near protected areas.
Forest department’s official position
A senior Karnataka Forest Department official said the exact number of incidents across Karnataka was not immediately available and would require about a month to compile.
Reason for the reported increase
Activists’ and field observers’ concerns
Activists say poachers are taking advantage of forest personnel being assigned to human-wildlife conflict mitigation.
Forest department’s official position
The report describes forest officials as concentrating on moving straying tigers, elephants and leopards away from villages, without the department confirming that this caused an increase in poaching.
Possible official involvement
Activists’ and field observers’ concerns
Some activists allege that forest guards are occasionally working with poachers or allowing incidents to go unnoticed.
Forest department’s official position
The article provides no confirmation from the forest department of these allegations.
Key facts
- Reported animals
- Spotted deer, Indian gaurs and wild boars
- Venison price
- Rs 1,200 per kilogram
- Gaur meat price
- Rs 1,000 per kilogram
- Reported destinations
- Bengaluru for venison and Kerala for gaur meat
- Reported methods
- Firearms, electrocution and snares
- Official data
- The Karnataka Forest Department said the statewide number of incidents was not immediately available
- Estimated yield
- An activist said an adult deer could provide about 25 kilograms of meat
Quotes
A wildlife activist familiar with Nagarahole Nation Park
A wildlife activist familiar with conditions in Nagarahole National Park
“Nowadays, poachers wait on the fringes for spotted deer, wild boars and Indian Guars to stray out of the reserves/park and hunt them for meat. Apart from firing at them, some take electrocution to kill straying wild herbivorous animals while some use snares to trap them.”
deccanchronicle.com
“Poaching takes place for quick money. In the fringes not many are into agriculture but take the lucrative option of poaching.”
deccanchronicle.com
Sources
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