In the last few months, there has been a rise in detection of such offences and many instances of poaching of black-napped hare and partridges have come to light in the district.

Forest officials have also been inspecting the Sunday Market in Madurai and other weekly markets across the district where pangolin scales, parakeets and other wild animals and birds are being sold.

Some people involved in the trade were nabbed and fined for selling animals parts such as pangolin scales and tortoise shells, which is an offence under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 that makes any attempt to hunt, kill, capture, sell or buy wild animals and birds an offence.

The posters, which carried photos of animals and birds commonly poached or sold in the district such as peacock, black-napped hare, cobra, parakeet, pangolin, star tortoise and spotted deer, also had contact details of the Range Officers of Madurai, Sholavandan, Usilampatti and Tirumangalam, and the District Forest Officer.

“The pamphlets were distributed by three teams who covered areas such as Karuppayoorani, Valayankulam, Villapuram, Alagarkovil, Nayakanpatti, Chatrapatti, Mattuthavani and Periyar bus stands,” said District Forest Officer Nihar Ranjan.

He said that they would continue to distribute pamphlets and talk to people at Kottampatti, Usilampatti, Tirumangalam and Sholavandan.

Notices for compensation

The department has also began distribution of notices offering compensation to farmers for damage to crops caused by wild animals and to people injured in attacks by wild animals.

Over the last a few months, some farmers whose crops were destroyed by wild boars had been given compensation by the department.

In order to encourage farmers to come forward and claim compensation, the notices specify the procedure to be followed while submitting claims like attaching photographs of damaged fields and crops with the detailed petition.