Dog sniffs out poacher after nilgai killed in Chhattisgarh's reserve forests

RAIPUR: A trained dog followed the scent of an arrow and led forest officials straight to a suspect’s house, helping crack an illegal nilgai poaching case within an hour in Keregaon reserve forest in Chhattisgarh’s Dhamtari forest division.

Six persons were arrested in the case. The matter came to light when a patrolling team of forest guards recovered a carcass of a male nilgai, estimated to be around three to four years old, on March 22 morning in compartment number 121 of Bansikhai beat. PCCF Arun Pandey told TOI that the carcass had three arrows injuries on its neck, abdomen and hind portion, indicating poaching. Dog squad from neighbouring Udanti Sitanadi Tiger Reserve was called and picking up the scent from the arrow used in attack, the canine tracked it to the house of a suspect in Dokal village.

Based on the evidences during the inquiry, a villager identified as Mannu was zeroed down as the key accused in poaching of the nilgai that led to further arrests of his six accomplices. The divisional forest officer said the department has stepped up surveillance against wildlife poaching and forest crimes through its flying squad, strike force and local intelligence network.Villagers have been appealed to report suspicious activity linked to forest offences, assuring that the identity of informants would be kept confidential, along with a provision of reward for them.