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Poachers Nabbed with Protected Hare in Kolhapur
17 Jul
Summary
- Two poachers arrested for hunting a Schedule-I Hispid Hare.
- A firearm used for the illegal hunt was confiscated.
- The arrests occurred during a night patrol in Nitawade forest.
Two poachers were arrested by forest officials from the Gargoti range on Thursday for illegally hunting a Hispid Hare in the Nitawade core forest area of Kolhapur district. This species is protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, offering it the highest level of legal protection.
Forest staff on a night patrol spotted a suspicious motorcycle and, after a chase, apprehended the riders. The suspects attempted to discard a bag, which was later found to contain a dead Hispid Hare and a firearm. Interrogation confirmed the accused used the weapon to hunt the animal, and some of its body parts had already been removed.
The arrested individuals, identified as Omkar Chandrakant Patil (27) and Rajendra Maruti Patil (34) from Nitawade village, now face charges. A case has been registered against them under various sections of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, reflecting the severity of the offense against a protected species.
