Poachers feed' Hyderabad's love for game meat

Hyderabad: Deer meat is just a phone call away in Hyderabad. There are at least half a dozen traders who trade in spotted deer meat and supply it to the customer's doorsteps secretly. 

A trader from Saifabad and a seller from Gachibowli take between Rs 1,200 and Rs 2,000 for a kilo of spotted deer meat. Wild boar, wild hare, peacock, and monitor lizard are also delivered by the traders.

Dhabas in Narsingi and Errakunta near Pahadishareef cook and sell these meats for their special customers. Earlier, the poachers used to bring the meat from the borders of Gulbarga, Bidar, Raichur Road, Atmakur, Narayanpet, Adilabad and places in Khammam after hunting them, but the increased vigil by various enforcement agencies has made it difficult for them to bring it via road.

For the last two years, organised rackets have been exploiting one of the largest urban wildlife habitats in city — the 16,000-acre land in University of Hyderabad campus.

Sources, who had bought the meat earlier, say that the traders usually have a pre-ordering system. “You need to order the meat and they would deliver it in a week or so. Wild boar meat is quickly available. Meat of spotted deer and wild hares is expensive and scarce,” said source.

Customers also go to secret vendors in Lingampally and buy the meat from there. “One trader sells the meat in his house near Raithu Bazar in Lingampally. But, a new customer has to be introduced by an existing customer,” said the source. “The meat he sells is mainly of animals from UoH campus,” the source added.  

Wildlife activists say that traders are extremely cautious to avoid the vigil of enforcement agencies. “They sell to their friends, acquaintances and in closed circles so that it remains secret,” said wildlife activist Iran Siddiqui.

People in Hyderabad get attracted to the wild animal meat because some people still try to keep the old ‘Shikari culture’ alive. “Eating meat of deer, hare and other wild animals is a matter of prestige and honour for many. Many go out there with rifles and hunt too,” said TS biodiversity committee member Devidas Manghnani, adding that many even boast among friend circles that they hunt and eat the meat of these wild animals.