Aizawl: A 41-year-old man has been arrested in Mizoram’s Kolasib district for allegedly poaching and killing a serow, the state animal, and possessing its meat and body parts, the state environment, forests and climate change department officials said on Thursday.The accused, identified as RT Thanga, a resident of Kawnpui’s Hmar Veng locality, was arrested during an operation conducted by officials of the Kawnpui Forest Range. He was produced before a district court in Kolasib on Wednesday and remanded in judicial custody at the district jail.Forest officials seized a 12-bore single-barrel breech-loading gun allegedly used to kill the animal, 10.5kg of meat stored in a freezer, cooked entrails and the serow’s head, which had reportedly been preserved as a trophy.The seized meat and trophy were destroyed and disposed of under the supervision of Kolasib district honorary wildlife warden H Vanlalnghaka following an order from a judicial magistrate first class.The serow, locally known as saza, is protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. The law prohibits hunting or killing animals listed under Schedule I, as well as possessing, consuming, buying or selling their meat or body parts. Attempts to hunt or kill protected wildlife are also punishable.A conviction for such offences can result in imprisonment for three to seven years and a fine of at least Rs 25,000.
