Four more arrested for alleged musk deer poaching

The Wangchuck Centennial National Park (WCNP) in Bumthang recently arrested 4 more men in connection with alleged musk deer poaching on two separate incidents within the Park area.

The park authority detained two men from Wangdue Phodrang earlier last month during an anti-musk deer poaching patrolling. Foresters have now seized 3 musk pods (Latsi), dismantled more than 70 traps and found a musk deer killed in one of the traps in connection with the incidents.

Foresters first detained 2 men, who are from Baedrog village of Kazhi Gewog in Wangdue Phodrang on 28^th September. The suspects were said to be carrying rations on their back and heading towards the Park area. They told the patrolling team of foresters that they were going to collect Figwort Picrorhiza, a medicinal herb commonly known as Puti-Shing in the Park area. However, foresters found nylon rope rolls in their bags, which were meant for setting traps for musk deer.

While the investigation for the first incident was ongoing, the foresters intercepted another 2 men also from the same village leaving the Park area after having set up traps in it. During the bust, one of the suspects even threatened foresters and officials from other law enforcing agencies with a knife. Foresters seized 3 musk pods from them. Upon interrogation, the suspects confessed that they have set up 27 traps to catch musk deer from the park’s territory.

Meanwhile, on October 12^th, WCNP officials detained two more suspects who are both from Saephu in Wangdue Phodrang. During the interrogation, they admitted of having set up 47 traps in the park’s musk deer habitat. When foresters went to dismantle the traps, they came across a young musk deer, dead after being trapped in one of the traps.

Foresters dismantled all the traps set up in different locations which are all about 3 days walk from the nearest road point. Meanwhile, all 6 suspects have confessed to the crime and they are under Bumthang Police custody. All the cases will be forwarded to the district court after a detailed investigation.

Kipchu