The animals which stray into the agricultural fields during the night are becoming easy prey to a gang of poachers. Villagers in Honnapur near Alnavar say the new clients who come for meat of wild animals includesbodybuilders. They are apparently under the impression that consuming wild animals will enhance their strength. The villagers added that the gang members, who openly boast about their hunting spree to the villagers, have now taken to social media to contact their clients. The clients contact the poachers with a list of requirements and the poachers function accordingly.

In the last two months, spotted deer and wild boars have been hunted by the gangs in Honnaur, also known as Prabhu Nagar Honnapur. Many villagers, who oppose hunting here, are now seeking the help of forest and police officials. They are howvere too scared to oppose these poachers openly, for fear of their lives.

“The meat of deer and boar is sold at `400 per kg. Even the skin of the animal is traded. As most of the customers are aware about the hunting, the distribution of meat happens systematically. Villagers and the enforcement agencies have no clue about how and when the hunting takes place. Similar cases have been reported from Bharat Colony and other villages near Alnavar. Poachers go in a group of five to six members late in the night to nearby forests. After a kill, every individual gets their share, also known as pal,” the source said.

The hunt

The poachers here use crude bombs and traps to catch the animals.In meat bombs, parts of animal carcasses are wrapped around firecrackers. Meat bombs are usually kept for wild boars which die after chewing the bomb, which bursts in its mouth.Snares are laid to catch other herbivores like deer and blackbucks. When the animals get trapped, the poachers move in quickly and kill the animal on spot.

Poor protection, zero awareness

Most of the herbivores can be found in agriculture fields outside Hubballi and Dharwad which become easy prey for poachers. Though there is enough fodder and water available, some animals, especially black bucks and spotted deer, wander outside the protected areas during the night hours in search of food, especially in agricultural fields.The Forest Department in the districts of north Karnataka is inactive when it comes to detection of poaching and prosecuting. As a result, poachers continue to languish in this area.

Forest officlals are clueless

The forest officials in Dharwad said the department is unaware of any such happenings.

“We will look into the matter as it is a serious issue. To avoid animal movement outside the forest, many waterholes have been created. There is staff crunch in the regular divisions of the Forest Department. As a result, patrolling in the night hours where poaching is reported, becomes difficult,” a forest officer said.