The Wildlife Protection Department recovered carcasses of some animals killed by poachers along with equipment during a routine anti-poaching patrolling at Chhalla in the Ramkote forest range of Billawar tehsil in Kathua district today.

Reports said the patrol party intercepted two unknown scooter-borne persons this morning. However, when asked to stop, they fled the scene leaving their scooter, a plastic bag and two spears.

In the bag, the wildlife officials found the carcasses of three wild animals. The bag also contained five iron-traps used by them for trapping the animals. The department got the post-mortem of the killed animals conducted by the Animal Husbandry Department at Kathua. An FIR was also lodged at Billawar police station under the Jammu and Kashmir Wildlife Protection Act, 1978 (amended in 2002). The wildlife warden, Jammu, Tahir Shawl, said, “These animals are killed for their commercial value and meat. The killing or hunting of wild animals, except under certain conditions, is banned under Section 8 of the Act and warrants legal action,” the warden said.

“Any person held guilty of committing this kind of offence, on conviction, is punishable with imprisonment for a term that may extend up to six years and a fine up to Rs 25,000,” he added.