India: Wildlife personnel on Monday arrested five persons for allegedly hunting two mouse deer at Paladiha in Baripada Forest Division, which falls under the buffer zone of Similipal Tiger Reserve.

They seized four country-made guns from the poachers. They were identified as Beta Singh, Tanguru Singh, Rabindra Singh, Raghunath Singh and Raika Singh.

Divisional forest officer (Baripada) Sanjay Kumar Swain said a team of two foresters and three forest guards intercepted the poachers.

"We seized venison of the mouse-deer. The accused were produced in a court which remanded them in judicial custody," said Swain.

Wildlife officials said the poachers were professionals and they sell the venison of the mouse deer in dhabas (roadside eating joints) and hotels. Wildlife wing in Baripada has listed 22 hardcore poachers, who were arrested several times. More than 100 seasonal poachers are active in Baripada division, official sources said.

In April, wildlife officials organized an archery competition among the villagers, who the department had identified as poachers, and gave away awards to reform them. The competition was held at Bahalda under Dukura range in Mayurbhanj district.

The department chose archery as poachers would feel as if they were hunting animals. "Since it is difficult to wean villagers off poaching, which they have been doing for generations, we had given away awards as incentives. Between April and August, we did not come across any instance of poaching," said Swain.

(Source: The Times of India)