TS forest officials nab poacher for selling crocodile meat in Mulugu

Mulugu: The Telangana Forest Department has caught a poacher attempting to sell crocodile meat after catching the reptile on the banks of River Godavari.

The incident came to light when forest officials intercepted the suspect at Chandrupatla village, Wajedu mandal, Mulugu district. Others involved in the illegal activity managed to escape.

Speaking to NewsMeter, forest range officer, B Chandramouli, “We received information that a crocodile was killed on Sunday in the Chandrapatla area, part of the Krishnapuram forest section in Vajedu mandal.”

The officer added, “Acting promptly, a team led by the beat officer Prasada Rao went there and detained a person behaving suspiciously. We managed to recover the carcass of the crocodile along with pieces of its meat from him. Later, we examined the meat under the presence of a veterinary doctor and confirmed that it was crocodile meat.” The officer was surprised to know that people consume crocodile meat.

Officer Chandramouli said that as Chandrapetla is on the banks of river Godavari, crocodiles bask on the river bed in general, becoming targets for poachers and hunters.

During the investigation, it was revealed that the accused consumed the meat and hunted it for the same purpose. He said that a case has been filed and the investigation is in progress.