A fine of Rs.1.15 lakh was today imposed on five persons for poaching and consuming the meat of wild boar and porcupine in two separate incidents near Coonoor, about 20 km from here, forest department officials said.
The officials found three estate workers--Paramasivam, Arumugasamy and Madasamy, in possession of cooked meat of wild boar near Ulikkal, they said.
Being an offence under wildlife act, the workers were asked to pay a fine of rs.25,000 each within one month, failing which they will be arrested and have to undergo jail term, they said.
Similarly, two workers-- Murthy and Rajkumar-of Grekmore Estate, were also fined Rs.20,000 each for possessing the meat of porcupine. They were also given one month's time to pay the penalty or else undergo imprisonment, officials added.
