With None to Protect, Deer in Damagundam Forest Fall Prey to Poaching
Deccan ChronicleHYDERABAD: The handing over by the forest department of a large tract of forest area in Damagundam in Vikarabad district to the Indian Navy recently is learnt to have turned into a death warrant for wildlife, particularly deer that live in the forest with reports of poaching of Chital, or Spotted Deer – incidentally the state animal of Telangana. “Ever since the forest land was handed over to the Navy by the government, it has been an open season for hunters,” a source said. When asked about the reports of rampant poaching in Damagundam forest, a senior forest department official said that even if the land is handed over to the Navy, there should have been no let-up in protection and steps will be taken immediately to stop poaching in the forest. It may be recalled that 2,900 acres of forest land near Damagundam and Pudur villages was handed over to the Navy by the government for the setting up of a very low frequency radar facility, and the foundation stone for the project was laid on October 15.