Home / Crime and Justice / Forest Guard Arrested in Elephant Tusk Smuggling Ring
Forest Guard Arrested in Elephant Tusk Smuggling Ring
9 Sep
Summary
- Forest guard and two others arrested for attempting to sell elephant tusks.
- Two elephant tusks, measuring 56.5cm and 61cm, were recovered.
- Investigation is ongoing to determine if the tusks were from poaching or a carcass.
In the Amaravathi forest range of the Anamalai Tiger Reserve, a forest guard identified as A Mariappan, aged 49, has been apprehended along with two accomplices. They are accused of attempting to sell a pair of elephant tusks. The other arrested individuals include Kannimuthu, 52, a labourer, and R Vijayakumar, 29, a fish stall owner.
Forest officials successfully recovered two elephant tusks, measuring 56.5 cm and 61 cm in length, during a raid at Vijayakumar's residence. The operation was initiated after forest officers received an anonymous photograph of the tusks on WhatsApp on September 7.
Investigations revealed that Mariappan allegedly asked a local resident to photograph the tusks and send them to his phone, likely to facilitate a sale. Mariappan has since confessed to retrieving the tusks from the forest area and handing them over to Kannimuthu, who then concealed them at Vijayakumar's home.
Further inquiries are currently underway to determine the exact origin of the tusks. Authorities are working to ascertain whether an elephant was poached for its ivory or if the tusks were sourced from a naturally deceased animal.
