Itanagar: In a decisive move against illegal wildlife trade, officials in Arunachal Pradesh’s Papum Pare district seized and destroyed a significant quantity of wild animal carcasses at the Tura Forest Check Gate in the Sagalee division. The operation, conducted on February 22, targeted the sale of bushmeat, which was being transported for upcoming local festivals and consumption.
A team from the Sagalee Forest Range intercepted both dried and fresh wild meat at the Toru Forest Gate, uncovering an alarming collection of illegally hunted animals. Among the confiscated items were four deer, pheasants, barbet birds, and various fish species, all reportedly intended for sale at roadside stalls.
Sagalee Range Forest Officer Kara Koba revealed that wild meat is often smuggled into the region through government buses arriving from Pakke-Kessang and East Kameng districts. Due to the covert nature of the trade, identifying the sellers remains a challenge. The officer highlighted that the demand for exotic meat, particularly from affluent buyers, continues to fuel the illegal hunting industry.
“If there are no buyers or demand for wild meat, there won’t be any sellers,” Koba remarked, urging communities to take collective responsibility in curbing the trade. He emphasized that wildlife conservation is not solely the duty of the forest department but a shared obligation of society.
To ensure that the seized meat did not enter the market, officials took swift action to burn the carcasses, sending a strong message against poaching and illegal trade. The crackdown reflects the state’s commitment to protecting its rich biodiversity and discouraging the exploitation of wildlife for commercial gain.
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