The worst affected districts are Warangal, Karimnagar, Adilabad, and Khammam. Locals attribute the surge in illegal hunting and lapses in the ‘Catch the Trap’ drive.

Representational Image (ANI)

By ETV Bharat English Team

Published : April 14, 2025 at 7:38 PM IST

2 Min Read

Kothagudem: Wild animals are facing a serious threat across Telangana due to rampant poaching. Species such as deer, wild boars, mountain goats, and rabbits are among those frequently targeted by poachers.

The worst affected districts are Warangal, Karimnagar, Adilabad, and Khammam, with locals attributing the surge in illegal hunting to lapses in the ‘Catch the Trap’ anti-poaching drive.

“Some people have turned poaching into a means of livelihood. And despite stringent laws under the Wildlife Protection Act, enforcement remains weak on the ground,” said a local.

A recent incident in the Warangal district puts a spotlight on the grave situation. An accident near Pakala Cheruvu in Khanapuram Mandal involving an auto-rickshaw and an RTC bus exposed the poachers’ attempt to smuggle wildlife animals’ meat, as the bus driver and conductor found wild boar meat and a dead mountain goat inside the auto-rickshaw, after which the four occupants fled the scene.

Similarly, poachers caught a honey badger in the Mulugu district, but it was saved by the forest officials, who spotted the trap in time. They rescued the animal and released it into a sanctuary.

Officials alleged that farmers were also inadvertently endangering wildlife by erecting electric fences around their fields to keep out wild boars. “Animals searching for food and water often fall victim to these electrified barriers,” they said.

Falling groundwater also makes wild animals vulnerable to poachers’ attacks. “Low levels mean that many boreholes are running dry, and water tankers are not consistently replenishing the saucer pits. Consequently, wild animals venture into villages in search of water, only to fall into poachers’ traps,” officials said.

During the past two years, authorities have registered 24 poaching-related cases in the Khammam district and 40 in the Mulugu district. Several more cases have been reported in the Kothagudem and Gudur divisions of Mahabubabad district.

“We are taking strong measures to protect wildlife. Surveillance systems (Catch the Trap) have been set up at 40 locations across the district. We’re conducting extensive patrols with beat, range, section officers, and other staff. Traps and electric wires set by poachers are being dismantled. Hunting of wildlife will not be tolerated,” said Kishta Goud, District Forest Officer, Bhadradri Kothagudem.

Also Read

1. AI Keeps Wild Elephants Away From Human Settlements In Tamil Nadu’s Coimbatore
2. Madhya Pradesh: Bird Lover Abhilash Varse On A Mission To Create 1000 Nests In Jabalpur
3. Golden Langurs Of Kakoijana Swing, Jump And Play On Hanging Bridges Built By Assam Natives

WWF organizes seminar in Islamabad on Houbara Bustard conservation

| Omar AsifApr 14, 2025

• https://www.samaa.tv/2087331760-only-35-indian-houbara-bustards-left-in-pakistan-wwf-raises-alarm#google_vignette

Indian Houbara Bustard in Pakistan

Stay Connected, Stay Informed – Follow SamaaTV on Whatsapp for Real-time Updates!

A seminar on the conservation of the endangered houbara bustard was held in Islamabad under the auspices of the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), where participants called for improved policies to ensure the protection and breeding of the species.

WWF officials expressed concern over the declining population of houbara bustards in Pakistan, especially the Indian houbara, which now has only 35 individuals remaining in the country. They noted that the government lacks comprehensive data on the various species of houbara present in Pakistan.

The experts stressed the urgent need for a clear policy on both the hunting and breeding of the houbara. They further pointed out that other endangered species, such as the blackbuck and the Indus dolphin, are also at risk of extinction.

WWF experts emphasized that with proper scientific research and governmental commitment, effective conservation of houbara bustards and other wildlife species can be achieved.

Nagarparkar Residents Protest Illegal Hunting of Deer

Citizens in the Nagarparkar tehsil staged a protest against the illegal hunting of deer and the inaction of the Sindh Wildlife Department.

Residents expressed concern that local wildlife is at the mercy of poachers, with no protective measures in place. They reported that just two days ago, unidentified hunters brazenly killed and took away two deer in broad daylight.

Protesters criticized the Wildlife Department for failing to take any action, warning that such negligence is putting vulnerable species at risk.

They demanded immediate intervention, calling on authorities to take notice of the hunting incidents, punish those responsible, and protect the region’s wildlife.