Sniffer dog leads forest officials to nilgai poachers in Chhattisgarh

Raipur: A sniffer dog led the foresters in Chhattisgarh's Dhamtari forest division to six men suspected of poaching a nilgai.The matter came to light when a patrolling team of forest guards recovered the carcass of a male nilgai, estimated to be around three to four years old, on March 22 morning in compartment number 121 of Bansikhai beat.Based on the evidence during the inquiry, a villager identified as Mannu was zeroed down as the key accused in poaching of the nilgai, which led to further arrests of his six accomplices.The divisional forest officer said the department stepped up surveillance against wildlife poaching and forest crimes through its flying squad, strike force and local intelligence network.Villagers were appealed to report suspicious activity linked to forest offences, assuring that the identity of informants would be kept confidential, along with a provision of reward for them.The dog followed scent from an arrow and led forest officials to a suspect's house, helping crack an illegal nilgai poaching case within an hour in Keregaon reserve forest in Chhattisgarh's Dhamtari forest division. Six persons were arrested in the case.PCCF Arun Pandey told TOI that the carcass had three arrows injuries on its neck, abdomen and hind portion, indicating poaching. A dog squad from neighbouring Udanti Sitanadi Tiger Reserve was called and, picking up the scent from the arrow used in the attack, the canine tracked it to the house of a suspect in Dokal village.