Pune: Dattawadi police, on Wednesday, arrested a youth for cradling a sambar deer near Taljai forest area.
The accused has been identified as Chandra Danalih Awaji (19), resident of Annabhau Sathe Vasahat in Sahakaranagar, Pune.
After receiving a tip-off, the Dattawadi police laid a trap near the Taljai forest area and arrested the youth. The police were accompanied by forest guard Madhulkar Bhaskar Gagade.
A case has been registered against Awaji under sections 2(31), 39, 49, 50, 51(1) of the Protection of Wildlife Act and sections 2, 41, 42, and 52 of the Indian Forest Act, 1927, at Dattawadi police station.
According to statement recorded by the police, the youth had stolen the sambar and was going to sell its horns.
Under Schedule-III of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, sambar is a protected animal and its hunting is a punishable offence. Sambar is listed in the group of ‘vulnerable’ animals by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
Vulnerable animals are those which are likely to become endangered unless steps are not taken for their revival. There are now 4,728 animals and 4,914 plants listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.