Two men have been fined Nu.20,000 each by the Forest Range Office in Gelegphu for killing a bear and smuggling the bile. They were caught red-handed by the forest officials, after a tip-off from their informer, while they were negotiating the price with the buyer on January 12.
The men, however, have denied of having killed the bear. The two accused in their thirties are from Pangkhar village under Sherzhong Gewog. They said they found it dead on their way to their water source. But the forest officials, upon investigation, found evidence against them. They recovered a paw of the bear’s hind leg from one of the men’s house.
Blood stains were found at the site where the bear is believed to have been killed about a month ago. The remains of the carcass, recovered from the site, were found to be wounded. And a cable snare was found around its paw.
According to the officials, the buyers will not be fined because the deal had not taken place and the bile was still in possession of the seller. The two accused will have to pay the fine by February 11.
