more-in Ramanathapuram Forest department personnel have arrested four people on the charges of hunting Eurasian collared doves, partridges and black naped hares, protected under schedule IV of the Wildlife Protection Act. Acting on specific information about hunting of birds and hares in the forest areas at the outskirts of Erwadi, a team of forest personnel, led by S. Sikkandar Basha, Forest Range Officer (Mandapam range), visited Komboothi Kanmai and Adancheri forest areas on Friday evening and arrested the accused. Mr. Basha said the team had arrested B. Veeran (35) of Indira Nagar, Thirupullani, for hunting Eurasian collared doves by laying nets at Komboothi kanmai. He was in possession of four live birds and the personnel released them back into the area after arresting him. He was imposed fine of ? 20,000 and after he paid the fine amount, the accused was released, he said. The team, comprising Forester Sudhakar also arrested three people – Muniasamy (22), Thamburaj (23) and his father Selvam (45) when they were hunting partridges and black naped hares in the Adancheri forest area. The hunted birds and hares were live and they were released back into the forest area, Mr Basha said. The accused were released after they paid fine of ? 5,000 each, he said. While patrolling the forest area, the team found a female spotted deer dead with injuries in its mouth. The deer, while coming out of the forest looking for water, could have suffered injuries after hitting against wire fence on being chased by stray dogs, the forest personnel suspected. After a postmortem by a veterinary assistant surgeon, the carcass was buried in the Kilakarai forest range office complex, they said.

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