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Udhagamandalam, June 28 - Fresh venison with scotch and whisky is the latest fad among bigwigs in places such as Masinadgudi, Thorapalli and Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary in the Gudalur block of the Nilgiris bordering Kerala and Karnataka.
On an average, at least twice a week, dinner in most big bungalows, estate and resorts in these places is deer. Far from taking any action, officials in charge of Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary forest areas apparently hobnob with the high-society crowd. On the other hand, poor, illiterate tribals get invariably hauled up for any wildlife poaching.
For the past four years, deer poaching has been on the increase here. Last Thursday alone, three deer are believed to have been killed. Three tribals and a Bangalore-based priest, Father Fernandes, were arrested and charged with possessing unlicensed weapons and deer slaughter. It was the first time in the history of Nilgiris district that a criminal case was registered against a Christian priest in this connection.
However, according to sources, the tribals are just the hunters and the meat actually ends up on the plates of bigshots.
An official says that as long as the people are allowed to keep long-range rifles, dating back to the British period, checking poaching would be a tall order. Warning that the spotted deer could become extinct in the next 10 years at this rate, the officer recommends that a team of officers be deputed to search all bunglows and resorts in forest areas to seize illegal weapons.
A district forest officer (DFO) shows many telegrams and letters he received from the public over the ''bold action'' in protecting forest and wild animals after the arrest of Father Fernandes, who is the priest of a church located inside a tea estate near Mudumalai Sanctuary. He was fined Rs 4 lakh and let off.
DFO Deepak Srivastava said evidence like blood stains, pieces of deer flesh and hair had been found at the priest's bungalow. Later, 1.5 kg of deer flesh was also found kept in a refregiator. Four guns found in the house, including two unlicensed ones, have since been handed over to the police.
On Friday night, the priest was
admitted in hospital complaining of blood pressure. Senior priests from
Bangalore have met him and asked him not to be worried. Father Fernandes
now claims he is being made a scapegoat. Incidentally, estate owners back
this up.
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