India: Four men accused of poaching a spotted deer, a wild animal of Schedule -IV under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, in Sivagiri, were detained by the staff of Forest Department on Saturday. Besides, meat weighing about 25 kg was recovered and a country gun, aruval, knife, rod and two bikes were seized from them, according to Sivagiri Forest Range Officer P.K. Stalin.

The meat was destroyed by pouring kerosene on it. While patrolling, the accused were spotted near a pond southward of Sivagiri and caught red handed while slaughtering the deer, which was identified as a two-and-a-half-year-old female, Mr. Stalin said.

However, two other hunters sped away after the patrolling team closed in on them. Based on a directive from District Forest Officer, Thirumal .The accused were from Sivagiri and identified as B. Selvakumar (29), R. Kubendran (30), K. Murugan (41) and R. Murugan (30), he said.

(Source: The Hindu)