Two deer with critical shrapnel injuries entered Mangalgaun, a settlement in Chandrapur Municipality-1, from Nunthar forest on Saturday evening. The local people immediately informed the Division Forest Office about the incident. But the deer succumbed to their injuries by the time a rescue team from forest office reached the village.  

The Saturday’s incident underscores how poaching is still going unchecked, affecting wildlife habitats. Deer, wild boars, blue bulls are the major targets of poachers.

The forest office initiated an investigation after it learnt that hunters killed two wild boars in the forest area of Chandranigahapur a week ago. The poachers are yet to be identified, according to the Forest Department.

“The wildlife runs to safer places as wildfires destroy their habitat. The poachers ambush the animals while they flee from the bio-corridor,” said a forest officer.

The local people complained that poaching of wild beast has increased of late but the authorities concerned have not taken effective measures to control it. Binod Singh, an officer at the division forest office, however, said they are doing everything they possibly can to contain poaching of wildlife. “We will be more vigilant and deploy forest employees and guards to detain the poachers,” he said.

Leopard hide seized

DOLAKHA: An Armed Police Force patrol team has seized a leopard’s pelt from Kirnetar in Tamakoshi Rural Municipality. The APF handed over the pelt to Division Forest Office in Dolakha on Sunday for investigation.