Carcass of hog deer found, another rescued
Source: Chronicle News Service
Bishnupur, April 16 2023:
The hog deer which was killed and stashed by one Moirangmayum Nasir Khan before being apprehended by a joint team of Bishnupur Forest Division and district police on April 14 was found in a decomposed state at Jawa Lamjao, Ishok while another hog deer that wandered into residential area near the spot was caught and released in its natural habitat Keibul Lamjao, on Sunday.
Addressing media persons in this regard at Bishnupur Forest Division office on Sunday, Bishnupur Forest Division range officer S Ratan Singh informed that the Forest Division along with Manipur police had arrested Nasir Khan, who was involved in the killing of a hog deer, locally known as Kharsa.
However, the hog deer could not be located immediately.
Nasir Khan was further remanded in police custody for seven days by a court.
During interrogation, he reportedly revealed the spot where he had hidden the hog deer he had killed.
Forest guards along with police went to the spot and found the hog deer in a decomposed state.
During the search, another hog deer which was found in the area was caught and released in its natural habitat Keibul Lamjao, he added.
The endangered deer species reportedly wandered into a residential area at Toupokpi village, near the Loktak Lake on Sunday.
The adult female hog deer was caught unhurt by the locals around 10.30 am when it entered the residence of one Babudhon Singh, a local leader and also a former member of the Toupokpi village.
After the endangered deer was lassoed and placed inside the Toupokpi community hall, Manipur forest officials were informed.
DFO Rebica Soibam Chanu expressed gratitude to the locals of Toupokpi for handing over the rare deer species to the government authorities.
Later the hog deer was vaccinated and released at Jawa Lamjao/Ishok, the northern part of the Loktak Lake.
According to Manipur forest department, the deer is one of the endangered species listed under Schedule 1 .
It is also listed as globally endangered animal on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List.
Its survival has been threatened by habitat loss, poaching and the snaring crisis, fuelled by humans.