The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Search on for youth from Madhya Pradesh

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Tuesday, Jan 08, 2008
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Search on for youth from Madhya Pradesh

Staff Reporter

It is in connection with poaching of wild animals

INHUMAN ACT: Skins of wild animals recovered from a wildlife products seller in Dandeli recently.

BANGALORE: The Forest Cell of the State Police are on a lookout for a youth hailing from Madhya Pradesh in connection with poaching of wild animals, including tiger, leopard and common otters, from the forests of Karnataka, particularly Dandeli forests in Uttara Kannada district.

A team of officials has left here for Madhya Pradesh in search of the 30-year-old Durra from Katni following recovery of skins of tiger, leopard and common otters from a trader in Haliyal in Uttara Kannada district and in Old Hubli recently.

Inspector-General of Police (Forest Cell) K.S.N. Chikkerur told presspersons here on Monday that Durra, who belonged to the Bahelia tribe, was specialised in trapping wild animals using jaw-traps. He was familiar with the forests in Karnataka. “He uses pups to entice leopards and tigers towards the trap. After the animal is trapped, it is hit with clubs and killed,” he said.

Trade link

The involvement of Durra in various poaching cases in the State, Mr. Chikkerur said, came to light during the interrogation of Prabhakar Keshav, a trader who was arrested recently in connection with illegal possession of pelts of wild animals. While the police arrested Keshav and four others, they also recovered a tiger pelt along with 23 leopard pelts and 43 common otters pelts. Keshav is said to be involved in the trade of wildlife products for the past 15 years and has links with poacher Sansar Chand.

During interrogation, it was learnt that Keshav had confessed to procuring the skins from Durra. Mr. Chikkerur said Durra was selling skins to traders such as Prabhakar Keshav, who is a vital link in the wildlife trade in South India. Keshav has links with those arrested in connection with poaching of lions in Gir sanctuary in Gujarat. “We are also looking for some persons from Shimoga district,” he said.

Mr. Chikkerur said skins of leopards and tigers from South India are in demand for their bright colour coating. These skins are sold anywhere between Rs. 50,000 and Rs. 2 lakh. The skins of common otters are used in Jammu and Kashmir for making coats and later exported to Nepal, he said.

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