http://www.newindianexpress.co...hunters-1556427.html


One killed, another seriously injured as elephant attacks hunters


By Express News Service | Published: 05th January 2017 03:27 PM |
Last Updated: 05th January 2017 03:27 PM

KOCHI: An illegal hunting trip by a four-member gang to Thattekkad Bird Sanctuary area under Kuttampuzha Forest Range turned tragic after one was trampled to death and another was seriously injured by an elephant, on Wednesday night.

The deceased has been identified as Tony Mathew (26) Vazhuthanappillil House, Thattekadu, Kuttampuzha Police said.

Basil Thankachan (35) who sustained injuries on spinal cord is undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Ernakulam.

Meanwhile, the Forest Department began an inquiry after registering a case for trespassing into the sanctuary with lethal weapons for hunting.

According to the forest officials, Sajith Joseph (30) of Vadakkel, Thattekad, and Anish (25) Nalucent Colony, Thattekad, had accompanied Tony and Basil for the illegal hunting in the forest area.

They encountered an elephant at Bharanikuzhy at 9 PM and the elephant started to chase the gang. Basil, Sajith and Anish managed to escape but Tony was not so lucky. He sustained severe injuries all over his body and succumbed to injuries at a private hospital in Kothamangalam by 2 AM on Thursday, police said.

According to the officials, Tony had also sustained an injury on his leg after the country-made gun in his possession accidentally went-off during the rush.

Kuttampuzha Forest Range Officer T X Xavier said they have already begun a probe on the issue. "A team led by range officer Sanjayan conducted searches in the forest and recovered a country-made gun from the spot, which was allegedly used by the accused for hunting. Entering the sanctuary with an intention of hunting is a grievous offence", he added.

Sajith and Anish are at large after the incident.

Why do they call it an illegal hunting group? They should be labeled poachers.

We watched a documentary on India's Western Ex-Pat population. Most of them immigrated in the 1960s and 1970's because drugs were tolerated at levels unheard of by most Western nations.

One man in particular was a Swiss man in his late 50's married to a native girl who was half his age and they had a small child. He poached with a group of other expats on a regular basis for pheasants and whatever else he could get. He grew up hunting in Europe, his father was still a hunter and it was in his blood. He acknowledged that it was illegal poaching, but the director of the documentary waxed over it as hunting.

quote:

Why do they call it an illegal hunting group? They should be labeled poachers.

Because it is the same thing, just using 3 words instead of one. It is also probably better for "our" cause since using the word illegal is more likely to be understood by non-hunters than poaching.

I kind of tend to agree, "poaching" might only be construed as taking something from us hunters.

Where "illegal hunting" might only be construed by those that are not hunters as a problem.