One Held for Poaching Giant Squirrels in Dantewada; Sloth Bear Skin Seized
Raipur: A joint team of the Udanti Sitanadi Tiger Reserve (USTR) Anti-Poaching Unit, the State Level Flying Squad, and the Dantewada Forest Division arrested a man on Wednesday for poaching nine Indian Giant Squirrels. The arrest followed the tracking of a video reel shared on Instagram.
The investigation began after Odisha Forest Department staff flagged social media footage showing two individuals in possession of the squirrels. The Indian Giant Squirrel (Ratufa indica) is a Schedule I species under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 and is the state animal of Maharashtra.
Forest officials used technical surveillance and analysed the accused’s social media activity to narrow down his location. The joint team apprehended the suspect, identified as Banshiram Kowasi, from the Barsur area of Dantewada district on 8 April 2026.
A subsequent search of the suspect’s residence led to the recovery of a sloth bear skin and several snares used for trapping wild animals. Preliminary questioning indicates the squirrels were poached from nearby forested patches for local bush meat consumption.
Gariaband Police provided critical inputs that assisted the forest department in cracking the case. While Kowasi is in custody, a second suspect involved in the poaching remains at large. Authorities have placed the absconding individual under surveillance.
The Indian Giant Squirrel plays a key role in forest ecology as a seed disperser, aiding the regeneration of native trees. Its presence serves as a biological indicator of healthy canopy connectivity and minimal human interference in the habitat.
The forest department has reiterated its commitment to strict enforcement of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. Officials have urged citizens to report any illegal wildlife trade or poaching activities to the authorities immediately.
