Black Buck, Poachers and Innocents...

Tuesday, a busy day in my office. It was 2.30 in the afternoon. No lunch yet. There was a call from ACF Magadaiah to inform about a black Buck hunt in H.M.Kaval (Halu malledevara Kaval, 661 Acres) of Handanakera Hobli, Chikkanayakanahalli Taluk, Tumkur Dist, which is under his jurisdiction. He also informed us about the persons whom they have already taken into custody.  It was raining outside. I and Manohar started up quickly in my car. Manohar wanted to go in a 2 wheeler the reason being to reach the place inside the deep kaval area. And finally I was also afraid of the crowd in the village who came to protect the aarrested persons and decided to go by 2 wheeler. We started at 3, reached Doddaennegere gate which is about 40 kms of purely country road from Tiptur in just 35 minutes. We were welcomed by driver Nagaraj of forest department who was waiting for us at the gate. I was hungry. Had biscuits with a strong tea. We picked up Dr. Nagaraj, Veterinary doctor from Doddaennegere and continued our journey in forest dept. jeep to Kidakanahalli (Village) which is about 8 kms from there, where the persons have been held. We reached the village and we were shocked to see the crowd. 

I entered the house with RFO Nanjundappa , Forester Krishna Naik (both from Chikkanayakanahalli range) along with camera in my hand. I never saw such a scene before. I was shocked to see the head of a young Black Buck aged about 10 years separated from its body. The carcass of the animal was hanging from the top. The front legs were cut into half and lying dead. Eyes watered for a moment. Captured the scene. Then the carcass was taken to the kaval area for further process. Post mortem was done in the kaval area. We took the culprits to the place where he found the body. RFO Nanjundappa started questioning  Ramanaik on the spot. ACF, me and manohar started questioning  Ganganaika (Ramanaika’s father in law) a few yards away.  Finally we tallied both of their statements. Which was true. Post mortem was finished by that time and Dr. Nagaraj said it was shot by a country rifle at around 8pm on Monday night. We saw the shot on the right front part of the animal. 

Ramanaika & Ganganaika with the carcass.

The story goes on like this as said by Ramanaika and Ganganaika : One Ramanaika saw the carcass, around 8 am on Tuesday a portion of which had been eaten by foxes, lying beside road, where he has to travel to his place through the kaval area. He informed his father-in-law Ganganaika. The duo had taken the carcass to their house and were peeling the skin out to consume the meat. On a tip off watcher Girish and Umapati informed higher officials and raided the house and took them into custody.

From the post mortem report we came to conclusion that the poachers had shot the animal by a country-made rifle on Monday night at about 8pm but failed to take it to their possession, as the injured animal had run away into the forest in dark leaving behind the culprits. The animal died around 12 midnight.  And the persons who have taken into custody seem to be innocents as they have taken the carcass to consume it. 

Blackbuck head severed from it's body.

Bullet wound.

Consuming an endangered animal is also an offence and hence forest dept. officials took them and produced before the Magistrate along with the carcass. Dept. officials are eagerly waiting to arrest the real culprits who are hunting in that sector.

Thanks to Girish (watcher) who managed to get the information and informed higher officials about the matter. And thanks to ACF Magadaiah, Tiptur , who gave us the field experiences and manohar who joined me.

Entry wound seen on the skin.

Shrikanth and others at the scene.

Article contributed by Shrikanth Tiptur, Mythreya trust.