Wildlife poaching racket busted by forest officials in southern India

Forest Department officials have arrested four people in a joint operation with Wildlife Crime Control Bureau in connection with a wildlife poaching racket in southern India’s Karnataka.

The operation took place along the border separating Male Mahadeshwara Wildlife Sanctuary and BRT Tiger Reserve in the Chamarajanagar district on August 20.

Footage recorded on August 21 shows their seizure, included four tiger claws, tiger bones, a pair of leopard claws, deer skin, sambar skin, dhole skin, and the skin of two flying squirrels along with their bones.

The operation took nearly one year of planning before the suspects - Mahadev and Kumar of Nellikatari and Rangaswamy and Mahadeva of Gombegallu - were caught red-handed.

Forest Department officials will seek court permission for their custody and interrogation.