Wildlife offence report registered over wildlife hunting and killing videos, man jailed in Kalaburagi, following PETA India complaint

Wild animals were hunted, killed, and filmed in Kalaburagi, Karnataka, leading to an arrest and a wildlife offence report after a complaint by PETA India. Acting on the complaint, Shri Ashish Reddy M V IFS, Deputy Conservator of Forests, Kalaburagi registered a Preliminary Offence Report against Arun Jadhav after Instagram videos showed him stalking, terrifying, and killing protected species including Indian porcupines, Bengal monitors, wild boars, Indian hares, grey francolins, and oriental honey buzzards. The accused was arrested, produced before a court, and remanded to judicial custody, while the Kalaburagi Forest Division of the Karnataka Forest Department continues efforts to identify and apprehend others allegedly involved. The case involves violations of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 and the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, for offences carrying imprisonment of three to seven years and fines for Schedule I species, and up to three years imprisonment or a fine for Schedule II species. PETA India stated that perpetrators should undergo psychiatric evaluation and counselling, citing a study from Forensic Research & Criminology International Journal which stated, “Those who engage in cruelty to animals were [three] times more likely to commit other crimes.”