Three individuals have been arrested in Rajasthan’s Jaisalmer district for allegedly killing and burning a rare wild animal, suspected to be a Caracal, and posting a video of the act on social media. Forest officials recovered a half-burnt carcass at the site.
The incident occurred in the Shahgarh area near the India-Pakistan border two days prior. Deputy Conservator of Forests Kumar Shubham said a team was formed under Assistant Conservator of Forests Dilip Singh Rathore after the video surfaced online.
The arrested accused are:
Ibrahim Khan (32) – Shahgarh
Uma (31) – Shahgarh
Salidad (50) – Shahgarh
A case has been registered under various provisions of the Wildlife Protection Act, and a tractor allegedly used during the incident has been impounded.
During questioning, the accused claimed that around 50 of their livestock had been killed by a wild animal, after which they tracked the animal’s footprints. They stated the wild cat died while trying to escape. Forest officials, however, noted that the exact cause of death is yet to be ascertained.
The carcass has been sent for post-mortem, and biological samples have been dispatched to the Wildlife Institute of India in Dehradun for further investigation.
