The five men who were detained for poaching on Wednesday
The five men who were detained for poaching on Wednesday

Wildlife activists ‘trace’ poachers in Koppal

Camera traps installed to track movements of wolves caught images of intruders with snares in their hands

HUBBALLI: Five men from a road construction company in Koppal have been detained after their photos were recorded in camera traps installed for wolves in Koppal district recently.
The camera traps installed at Mandalmari village in Koppal to track the movements of wolves caught images of intruders with snares in their hands. Following this, the wildlife activists from Koppal have lodged complaints with the authorities.

The activists found that five men, who were caught in camera traps, work with a road construction company. Incidentally, the activists had raised objection to setting up of a cement fixing unit close to a wolf habitat. Mandalmari village is located on the borders of Kushati and Yelaburga taluks of Koppal and it is one of the last breeding grounds of wolves in Karnataka.

The authorities have warned and let off the intruders. The manager of the firm has given in writing that the employees in the unit will not venture into the forest areas around. The move has helped in creating awareness about wildlife laws in the region.

“There is poor protection to the habitats of wolves and hyenas when compared to national parks and tiger reserves. There is also lack of awareness among people about wildlife laws. Hence such incidents help in creating awareness among masses. It’s said that the gang could not hunt anything on the day they were caught on camera. They did not realise that their pictures would be captured, they reportedly told the authorities,” explained an activist from Koppal.

D50,000 reward
The Human Society International, an organisation involved in cracking wildlife trafficking, had announced D50,000 for any leads and arrests of five men, who were caught in the camera traps. The members from the organisation said the monitory prize would encourage the activists, who give their best in stopping the wildlife crime.

“Wildlife crime cannot be regulated by one single agency. It’s a collective effort of many activists, NGOs, police and foresters should ensure protection for the critical wildlife,” said Jayasimha Nuggehalli from HSI, said.

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