Forest officials in Berhampur arrested three individuals on Sunday for allegedly beating a spotted deer to death in Khaparaganda village, located under the Central range of Ghumusar North forest division in Ganjam district. The incident occurred on Saturday.
Preliminary Investigation Details
According to Himansu Sekhar Mohanty, Divisional Forest Officer of Ghumusar North division, preliminary investigations revealed that the accused—Udaya Naik (51), Ramesh Swain (60), and Rajesh Nayak (26), all residents of Khaparaganda—killed the deer to extract its meat for sale. The adult spotted deer was entering the village from a nearby forest area when the trio allegedly beat it to death.
Arrests Made After Carcass Recovery
After killing the animal, the accused reportedly took the carcass to a nearby area for processing. However, forest staff on duty rushed to the spot upon receiving information. Bibek Das, Assistant Conservator of Forests for Ghumusar North, stated, "Seeing the vehicle of the forest officials, the accused fled from the spot, leaving the carcass of the deer behind. The forest officials conducted a thorough search in the nearby areas, during which they were arrested." A search is ongoing to apprehend other suspected poachers involved in the killing.
Heightened Vigilance and Wildlife Concerns
Ranger Prithivraj Pradhan confirmed that patrolling has been intensified in the area following the incident to keep strict vigil on animal poachers. Wildlife activists have raised concerns over the increasing incidents of poaching, particularly as wild animals like deer and blackbucks venture into human habitats in search of water. The drying up of water bodies in forest areas has forced these animals to seek water elsewhere, making them vulnerable to poachers and stray dogs.
Amulya Upadhaya, President of the Ganjam district blackbuck protection committee, emphasized the need for proactive measures: "Forest officials need to create water bodies for the wild animals or fill up the dried ones to prevent such incidents." The incident highlights the ongoing challenges in wildlife conservation in the region.
