Kodagu: 5 arrested for poaching big cat

Kodagu: The forest department officials in the district arrested a gang of five hunters including three coffee estates owners on Saturday, September 5.

The arrested are identified as Santosh, Sashi, Sharanu, Ranjit, and Raju. The officials have also seized tiger claws and canines from the accused.

The hunters and poachers used a licensed double barrel to shoot at a ‘big cat’ in Nagarhole Tiger Reserve.

Santosh, Sashi, and Ranjit who were arrested by the forest officials belong to wealthy families who own coffee estates.

As per sources, several poachers and hunters who have been arrested in the last three years are wealthy coffee estate owners, college students from affluent families, and timber business owners.

This is not a lone incident of poaching during the lockdown. Earlier, a real estate tycoon was arrested for poaching in a wildlife sanctuary.