Hunting of wild animals goes unabated in Chandrababu Naidu’s home turf

Tirupati: For the past one month, a series of wild animals have been hunted in Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu’s home turf in Chittoor district. In a span of three weeks, two leopards and one elephant were trapped and killed by hunters across the district.

• Hunters have been killing innumerable wild animals in Chittoor districts
• Forest personnel are failing to curb movement of hunters movement in the jungle
• Recently two leopards and one elephant were trapped and killed by hunters.

In another incident, one spotted deer sustained injuries by the trap laid. Though the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 was in force, hunters are going on a killing spree. . As per the above Act, wild animal hunting was banned and punished under non bailable section.

According to Forest Department sources, in the last four years, major mammals like elephant and leopard and deer were killed and more than 100 number in the wildlife division and Chittoor East and West Forest divisional limit. During the first half of this year, two elephants were electrocuted with hunters fixed current wires near the Kuppam-Tamil Nadu border.

Recently, two weeks ago, one wild elephant died under suspicious circumstances in Yerravari Palem mandal at Kotakadapalli. Few months ago, one leopard got stuck in the hunters trap at Bangarupalem Mandal near Perumalla Palli forest area.

Here, hunters planned ambush for the hunting wild boars. In this trap ,leopard unexpectedly stuck into the wired trap and had sustain injuries. With the villagers lodging complaints, the forest officials shifted the leopard to the Venkateshwara Zoo Park.

Two days ago, one more leopard died with hunters trap in Challawandalapalle near Piler town. Here leopard was caught in trap set by a hunter. Forest officials and veterinary doctors conducted postmortem at the spot.

Forest officials has failed to curb the wild animals hunting in the Chief Minster’s home turf, Chittoor district which has one of the biggest dense forest in the State. Thousands of wild animals live in this forest area.

In Sesachalam forest, a total of 1,700 mammals and birds with several endangered species of flora and fauna are present. A senior forest official who wanted to remain anonymous, said that due to lack of adequate staff, they were unable to discharge their duties effectively.

But the Forest Department was trying its level best to curb the hunting of wild animals with the available staff, he added. Speaking to The Hans India here on Monday, environmentalist G Vanadeep said that near forest villages people should be made aware of the illegal activities of hunters and they must prevent hunting.

By K Nethaji