2 held for hunting Himalayan goral

The Chamba forest authorities have apprehended two persons for hunting a Himalayan Goral — a Schedule I species under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. Accused, whose identity has been withheld, were arrested from Gurad village under Dharwala tehsil. A gun has also been seized from their possession.

Acting on a tip-off, forest officials launched a swift operation and caught the accused red-handed during the act of poaching. The incident has brought spotlight on wildlife crimes in the region known for its rich biodiversity.

The Himalayan goral (Naemorhedus goral) is a small, goat-like antelope native to the Himalayan ranges. It is characterised by its grey-brown fur, sturdy build and remarkable agility on steep, rocky terrains. Listed under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, the species enjoys the highest level of legal protection in India, similar to that of the tiger and elephant. Globally, the Himalayan goral is classified as ‘near threatened’ on the IUCN Red List due to habitat loss, hunting and human disturbances.

Chamba Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Kritagaya Kumar said legal proceedings have been initiated against the accused. Authorities have reiterated their commitment to crack down on wildlife poaching and urged local communities to support conservation efforts.

Poaching remains a persistent issue in the remote and densely forested areas of Chamba, where traditional hunting practices, lack of awareness and limited enforcement resources have made wildlife vulnerable. Last year, Chamba forest officials had busted two gangs of wildlife smugglers operating in Chamba town and famous tourist destination of Khajjiar and recovered a huge cache of animal body parts including musk pods, Siyar Singhi, jackal nails, hemipenes and claws of monitor lizards from their possession.

Meanwhile, Forest officials have urged residents to stay vigilant and immediately report any suspicious activities in their area to help protect the region’s precious wildlife. Community involvement, they stressed, is vital to conserving biodiversity and curbing wildlife crimes.

Himachal Tribune