On Saturday, April 26, four persons were arrested by forest officials for alleged entrance to Panathadi Reserve illegally and catching river fish, including endangered Denison Barb (popularly known as “Miss Kerala”) from the Manjadukam River.
The arrested were identified as Yunus and Niyas by Karike Thottam, Satish of Periyaram and Aneesh of Bapunkayam. During the routine patrol, employees were detained and defeated the officers of the Panathadi Forest section.
According to the forest department, the group reportedly used a method locally known as “Thotta” to capture different types of river fish. This method is not only harmful to fish populations, but also seriously destroys the natural habitat of the river and other water life.
“Miss Keral”, a clearly colored fish, is classified as an endangered International Union for Nature Conservation (IUCN) and its alleged illegal captivity raised serious concern among forest bodies. Officials stated that the accused had intended to use a catch for food purposes.
After their arrest, four were taken to the Kanhangad Range office, where formal procedures were completed before they were made in court and will be successful.
In response to the incident, the Ministry of Forest announced that patrol and supervision in Panathadi Reserve Forest will be intensified to avoid illegal activities affecting endangered species.
Published – 27 April 2025 06:46
