By IANS,
Lucknow : Four people have been booked for trapping and killing a spotted deer in Uttar Pradesh, a forest official said Friday.
The spotted deer, also known as chital, was repeatedly beaten with wooden sticks Thursday night in Manudeeh village of Shrawasti district, some 250 km from Lucknow, Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) P.K. Singh told IANS by phone.
He said the deer, which lost its way and came to the village in search of food, was killed for its skin and antlers. The antlers are used for making traditional medicines and fetch a good amount in the international market.
“The deer had come from the nearby Abdullahganj forest area, which is home to nearly 500 spotted deer,” Singh said.
Under the Wildlife Protection Act 1972, injuring or killing a spotted deer is an offence.
Spotted deer is the most common deer species in Indian forests. Its coat is reddish fawn, marked with white spots, and its underbelly is white.