Wildlife India News | September 18, 2026
Chikkamagaluru, Karnataka: Forest officials have arrested three suspected poachers and seized approximately 70 kg of deer meat during a raid near Tarikere in Chikkamagaluru district, raising fresh concerns about illegal wildlife hunting in central Karnataka.
The arrests come just days after another alleged venison supply network was uncovered in neighbouring Shivamogga district.
Forest team catches suspects during raid
Acting on specific information, a Forest Department team led by Lakkavalli Range Forest Officer Indu G S and Deputy Range Forest Officer Channegowda G T raided the MC Halli area of Lakkavalli Range on Thursday, September 17.
The suspects were reportedly attempting to skin a hunted deer when officials arrived.
Four people allegedly escaped, but forest personnel apprehended three individuals at the scene.
The arrested men have been identified as Kiran Kumar G and Govindaraju, both residents of MC Halli quarters near Tarikere, and Manikantha D, a resident of Sitarampura near Bhadravathi. They were produced before a court and remanded to judicial custody.
Meat, firearm and hunting equipment seized
Seizure at a glance
70 kg
Approximate quantity of venison recovered
Forest officials also recovered a country-made gun, a two-wheeler, a sword, a knife, a dagger and a headlamp battery. The seized animal remains reportedly included the head and legs.
The equipment has raised suspicions that the accused were prepared to hunt wildlife and process carcasses for meat.
A forest offence case has been registered, and investigators are examining whether the suspects were involved in other poaching incidents.
Efforts are underway to locate the four people who escaped.
Second major venison seizure in neighbouring districts
The Chikkamagaluru arrests follow a recent operation at Nevatoor Anekere in Hosanagar taluk of Shivamogga district.
In that case, a Forest Department mobile squad seized approximately 35 kg of deer meat and animal body parts. Investigators reportedly uncovered suspected links between hunters and people supplying venison to consumers.
The two cases have heightened concerns that illegal deer hunting may involve networks operating across multiple forest divisions.
However, investigators have not yet established that the Chikkamagaluru and Shivamogga cases involve the same group.
Why deer poaching threatens more than one species
Deer are an essential part of forest ecosystems. Species such as sambar and chital provide important prey for tigers, leopards and other carnivores.
Persistent illegal hunting can reduce prey availability, disrupt ecological relationships and place additional pressure on predators.
The latest seizure also highlights the importance of surveillance outside national parks and wildlife sanctuaries. The Chikkamagaluru operation took place in a territorial forest division, demonstrating that wildlife crime is not confined to formally designated protected areas.
Earlier this month, another poaching incident was reported in MM Hills Wildlife Sanctuary, where suspected hunters abandoned chopped sambar remains while escaping forest personnel.
Investigation continues
The Chikkamagaluru operation was carried out under the supervision of Bhadravathi Division Deputy Conservator of Forests Ravindra Kumar and Tarikere Assistant Conservator of Forests Umar Badshah.
Forest officials are now investigating the suspected hunting operation and searching for the remaining accused.
The recovery of 70 kg of venison, following another substantial seizure in Shivamogga, underscores the need to investigate not only those hunting wild animals but also the networks that may be supplying and purchasing illegally obtained meat.
Source credit: The Times of India, September 17, 2026, with additional background from The New Indian Express.
Original news report
Deer poaching spreads to central Karnataka, 3 held with 70kg venison in Chikkamagaluru
Leave a Reply