Last Saturday, 15 March 2025, a gang of 06 commercial lark poachers were caught red-handed in Murshidabad’s Beldanga II block in a joint operation by our team and the Forest Department!

Acting on a tip-off from an anonymous informant, our team intercepted the poachers near Gholla village in Shaktipur PS before they could set their 2 km-long mist nets. Shortly after, the Forest Department and police arrived, seizing 03 motorcycles and taking the poachers into custody.

But here’s the big win—the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate’s court denied their bail! Despite no birds being found in the poachers’ possession, the court recognized their clear intent and attempt to hunt protected migratory birds, which is a punishable offense under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.

This enforcement action is part of our ongoing fight to protect migratory larks and pipits, which remain highly vulnerable to poaching—especially now, during peak lark poaching season. These small birds play a vital role in our ecosystems, yet every year, thousands are illegally trapped and sold for consumption as “exotic” meat.

This case sets an important precedent: poaching doesn’t always need to succeed to be a crime. Under the law, “hunting” includes capturing, trapping, and every attempt to do so—making their actions illegal. The Forest Department also argued that the 06 poachers are part of a larger poaching network, and bail could jeopardize the investigation to blow the lid off the larger nexus.

Massive shoutout to our field operatives and the Forest Department- Behrampore South Range for their swift action in protecting our wildlife!