Home / Crime and Justice / Elephant Poachers Jailed for Tusk Theft
Elephant Poachers Jailed for Tusk Theft
4 Apr
Summary
- Eleven individuals received four-year sentences for an elephant poaching incident.
- A male Asiatic elephant was killed with a poisonous arrow for its tusks.
- The conviction helps dismantle three major elephant hunting gangs.
In a significant judgment, a court has sentenced eleven individuals to four years of imprisonment for the poaching of a male Asiatic elephant. The incident occurred in November 2023 within the Similipal Tiger Reserve, where the elephant was killed using a poisonous arrow, and its tusks were subsequently removed. This conviction marks a success in dismantling three organized elephant hunting gangs operating in and around the reserve.
Officials from the wildlife wing of the forest department highlighted the importance of this conviction, noting that while the elephant's carcass was discovered late, investigators meticulously gathered strong scientific and circumstantial evidence. The prosecution successfully proved the offenders' guilt under various sections of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, for illegally entering the core area of the reserve and poaching a Schedule-I animal.
The investigation revealed that the elephant died from a poisonous arrow, as indicated by a metal arrowhead recovered from its body during the postmortem examination. The carcass showed that the front portion of its skull and tusks were missing. While eleven accused have been convicted, twelve others remain absconding. This case underscores the ongoing challenges and successes in combating wildlife crime.
