The Anti Poaching Squad has been conducting frequent raids and has seized many scheduled wild animals, the most recent one being seizure of 12 peacocks from a home in old city. “Though the offender was into the business of exotic birds, he was breeding peacocks at his home. He had got the eggs from forest and hatched them with those of hens. Hunting, petting and breeding of any wildlife animals listed under the Act is an offense,” informed SK Baba Khadir Vali, deputy range officer, Anti Poaching Squad.

Hunting, harming or petting a schedule I or II animal can fetch an imprisonment of three to seven years whereas in case of schedule III and IV, a compounding fee of not more than `25,000 is collected as per the Act.

Further, he said, “In most cases, people commit such offences due to ignorance about the provisions of the Wildlife Protection Act. But, it is quite common that many deliberately indulge due to their food habits, superstitions, medicinal reasons, hobby or even for the love of animals.”

In about a dozen odd raids in the last nine months, as many as 12 peacocks, 504 patridges, 11 parakeets, six black napped hares, 10 wild pigs, five star tortoises, and three Alexandra parakeets have been seized by the squad. Apart from that, another 490 wildlife birds were seized from Murgichowk in old city in February last.

Out of the 490 birds seized and handed over to the Nehru Zoo park, seven Spotted Doves, six Indian rollers, three Crow pheasants, three squirrel palms, two Mottled wood owls, two Kestrels, and a red headed merlin were among the scheduled I birds rescued from Murgi chowk in old city. Schedule I animals are those which are in dire need of protection.