Two arrested in Dibrugarh for hunting egrets
Dibrugarh: The Dibrugarh forest department on Tuesday arrested two individuals for hunting egrets, a protected bird species under the Indian wildlife laws, after videos surfaced on social media platforms.
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The accused, Vijay Majhi and Rajesh Karmakar, were apprehended from Milan Nagar following widespread circulation of videos, showing them hunting. "The two individuals were arrested after videos of their hunting went viral on social media. Hunting egrets is a serious offence and we will ensure strict legal action is taken," DFO Nandha Kumar said.
Egrets are classified under Schedule IV of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, which strictly prohibits their hunting, providing comprehensive protection to specific species of flora and fauna.
The legal framework surrounding their protection is particularly robust, with specific species receiving even higher levels of protection. The Little Egret and Cattle Egret, commonly found in wetland areas across Assam, are listed under Schedule II of the Act, which makes hunting them a non-bailable offence.
The arrest comes at a time when wildlife conservation efforts in Assam have intensified, particularly in districts like Dibrugarh.
"Egrets play a crucial role in maintaining ecological balance and their indiscriminate hunting not only threatens biodiversity, but also violates wildlife protection laws. Awareness is crucial among the public regarding wildlife conservation. We need citizens to understand not just its legal implications, but also their ecological importance. We are working closely with local communities to gather intelligence and prevent such activities," Kumar said.
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