There has been a considerable spurt in poaching activity involving small game in the forests of Chittoor district, particularly in Palamaner and Piler ranges.
Senior forest officials said though the poaching activity was under check, of late the bustle had raised its ugly head and the reason is “high demand for bushmeat in Bengaluru”.
Giving credence to the suspicion among the forest officials is the increasing incidence of poachers arranging snares to hunt wild boars and deer. A few days ago, a sloth bear died after being caught in the snare arranged by poachers in the reserve forest near Palamaner.
Last week, the Rallabuduguru police in Kuppam circle arrested a man and confiscated a country rifle from him, after he had accidentally shot at a 14-year-old boy, while hunting wild boars.
Similarly, on January 4, the forest officials arrested an accused and seized a country rifle and some meat of sambhar at Bhakarapeta in Seshachalam ranges.
Small-time poachers are reportedly…