BENGALURU: Seven poachers were recently arrested for hunting pangolins — the world’s most trafficked animal — in Kudremukh National Park. With rising demand for pangolin meat and its scales in the international markets of China and Vietnam, poaching of pangolin has been on the rise. In fact, four species of Asian pangolins have been hunted almost to extinction.
Recently, the Someshwara Range officials under the Kudremukha Wildlife Division (KWD) caught the seven hunters with a dead pangolin and its scales. This local gang was equipped with snares, traps and other equipment to trap these solitary and elusive mammals.
Ganesh Bhat, Deputy Conservator of Forests, KWD, said, “Based on a tip off that a group of hunters had entered the forest area, the seven poachers were arrested. Investigations have been completed and a case has been filed against them and they are now out on bail. Under Wildlife Protection Act, they will get a punishment up to three years. Out of the seven, two of them were involved in a similar case earlier. The animal is prized for its meat while the scales fetches a high price in the international market.”
The DCF added that about 59 families who are nomads and have been rehabilitated in the Someshwara area are known to hunt snakes, porcupines and also pangolins. They don’t stay at one place and move from region to region and are regularly involved in hunting wildlife. Meanwhile, forest officials from other ranges say that in the last five years, many groups of hunters have been caught and arrested. Some hunters have been convicted, jailed and steep fines have been imposed.
Citing the 2014 case of Pangolin hunting in the Bhadra Tiger Reserve, a senior official said, “All the seven offenders belonging to an inter-state gang from Karnataka, AP and TN were convicted in 2015 and sentenced to jail for three years with an imposition of Rs 50,000 fine on each. Investigations and arrests stretched across three states; however, based on the evidence provided by our staff, they were convicted.”
Decrying the rampant hunting of Pangolin for its meat and scales, wildlife activists say it is a very important animal in the forest that makes its habitat by deeply burrowing in the soil.
G Veeresh adds, “Using fire and smoke, hunters destroy their burrows as also the forest habitat in their made search for pangolins. Usually the scales are preserved for selling it in the international markets of Nepal, Bhutan, China, Japan and Korea that fetches a huge price.”Presently, hunting of pangolin has become a fulltime job for poor tribal communities who are illiterate and jobless. They are paid a meagre amount for destroying the burrows. The hunters not only collect the scales but also consume its meat.