KARWAR: Forest department officials have caught three of the four suspected poachers near Ulavi-Shivapura forest range in the Dandeli-Anshi Tiger Reserve in Uttara Kannada district.
They were produced before a court on Friday morning. The fourth suspect is absconding, police said. The suspects were caught in the act on a camera trap.
The camera traps which were installed to study the carnivore population in the tiger reserve also help forest officials nab intruders based on photo data.
Srinivasulu Krishnamurthy, Chief Conservator of Forests (Dandeli-Anshi Tiger Reserve), told Express that Datta Harijan (48), Raju Krishna Harijan (25), both residents of Ulavi, and Timmanna Narayan Gauda (30) a resident of Shivapura have been arrested.
Ratnakar Savlu Sawant (35), also a resident of Shivapura, is absconding.
When questioned, the suspects admitted to having intruded into the forest with arms with an intent to hunt animals.
They even stole the camera trap. The incident came to light when forest officials were monitoring the data captured.
Krishnamurthy said in a complaint that the forest department has urged the police to book the suspects under the Wildlife (Protection) Act as well as the Arms Act.
The CCF said the police have been asked to conduct searches in remote villages in Ulavi and Shivapura forest ranges to book all those who possess arms without appropriate licences.