Forest officials confiscate stash of poaching devices in Karimnagar district, two held

In a decoy operation that set alarm bells ringing about rampant wildlife poaching in the northern region of the State, the Telangana Forest Department confiscated a large number of poaching devices, including jaw traps, which are used to ensnare apex predators such as tigers and leopards.

While the department has not issued any statement on this, it is learnt that two persons in possession of the devices have been arrested despite opposition by villagers with support from a Central minister.

Jaw traps result in painful death for wild fauna, after their paws get trapped in the device. Struggle by the animal to free itself from the trap often leads to the metal jaws getting deeper into flesh, rendering the animal immobile. While death is certain at the hands of the poacher, the animal would die of hunger and dehydration even otherwise.

Manufacture and sale of jaw traps indicates high risk for tigers roaming the forest and non-forest areas, especially in the northern districts of Telangana.

One tiger which entered the State from Maharashtra is now said to be on the move in Peddapalli district, while Kamareddy district too has witnessed itinerant feline visitors every now and then. This apart, several tigers had gone missing from Kawal Tiger Reserve spread over Asifabad, Mancherial, Nirmal and Adilabad districts in the past few years, due to which the case assumes importance.

As per information from sources, forest officials from Peddapalli district had initially identified a person named Narsimhulu, from Dharmaram village, who was learnt to have been manufacturing and selling jaw traps to several people engaged in wildlife poaching. Mobile phone tracking helped locate the person in Karimnagar on April 1, and based on this clue, a special team traced the accused to Rekurthy village in Kothapalli mandal, based on mobile tower location and enquiries.

As part of a decoy operation, a forest beat officer reportedly approached the accused, seeking jaw traps. After confirmation about availability, forest officials from Karimnagar and Mancherial, with support from the police, raided the premises on Thursday, April 2, 2026, and confiscated over 10 jaw traps among several other kinds of trapping devices, which are illegal under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.

Two persons, including Narsimhulu, were arrested, and their mobile phones were seized, which reportedly revealed several video clips related to wildlife poaching.

Sources informed that a large number of villagers gathered outside the police station, and with political backing, demanded release of the accused. However, officials from Kothapalli police station denied the demand of the protesters, and said that the accused were taken away by the foresters, without registering any complaint at the police station. Forest officials from Karimnagar did not respond to calls.