GUWAHATI: A hog deer poacher was apprehended by a forest team from Bagoribari village in Darrang district of Assam on Tuesday morning, official sources informed.
Three other poachers however managed to give the team, comprising employees of the Katasali and Chandanpur camps of the national park, a slip.
Based on a tip-off, a team led by the range officer of Rajiv Gandhi Orang National Park, recovered and seized an unspecified quantity of hog deer meat from a location.
The meat was chopped into small pieces between 4am and 5am in and kept in three bags, reportedly for sale.
Sources said that the skin of the hog deer was also seized from the poacher.
Hog deer is a protected species according to the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. “Poaching or killing of hog deer is a criminal offence. On being convicted, one may have to serve imprisonment up to three years and pay a fine up to Rs 25,000,” a statement issued here on Tuesday, said.