Forest officials face pressure from politicians to go easy on possession of wildlife articles in Karnataka

BJP MLA and former Home Minister Araga Jnanendra succeeded in stopping the arrest of Prasanna, a resident of Basavanagadde in Thirthahalli taluk, on October 31. The items seized at his place include 18 deer antlers of which three sets had skulls, nine horns of Indian gaur, 10.4 kg of sandalwood, and a single-barrel gun, for which the accused has no licence.

Forest Department officials are in a fix over the intervention of elected representatives in enforcing laws meant to protect wildlife with regard to possession of wildlife articles.

Interestingly, politicians, cutting across political parties, maintain that exhibiting the horns of the Indian gaur or deer antlers is quite common in the Malnad region. People need to be given time to declare wildlife articles in their possession.

Former minister Kimmane Rathnakar of the Congress has written to the Karnataka Government suggesting that people be given time to surrender wildlife articles.

BJP MLA and former Home Minister Araga Jnanendra succeeded in stopping the arrest of Prasanna, a resident of Basavanagadde in Thirthahalli taluk, on October 31. The items seized at his place include 18 deer antlers of which three sets had skulls, nine horns of Indian gaur, 10.4 kg of sandalwood, and a single-barrel gun, for which the accused has no licence.

Prasanna Krishna Patagar, Deputy Conservator of Forests (Wildlife), told The Hindu that Prasanna was not arrested because of his health condition. “We will take him into custody when required for further investigation,” he said.

Politicians of the Malnad argue that display of wildlife articles is quite common in the region. Most houses possess one or two articles, which are prominently displayed.

Earlier in August this year, Thirthahalli police raided a private resort where they seized antlers and horns. Kaneena Kadidal, owner of the resort, told The Hindu that the seized articles had been with the family for many years. “The articles were procured by my ancestors. They displayed them on the walls, and we retained them. It is quite common in many old houses in the region,” he said.