Action against four for killing endangered cat fish in Almora

Showcasing a giant catfish proved costly for the Almora villagers in Kumaon division of Uttarakhand as forest authorities were forced to take action against them.

Residents of Enlo village reportedly caught a Devil Catfish also known as goonch in local language in Ramganga river. Rather than releasing the fish back into the waters, villagers killed the fish. The forest authorities sprung into action after the pictures of the catch were put on social media.

S R Prajpathi, Divisional Forest officer, Almora, sent a team of forest officials to the village to take cognizance of the matter. “We have identified four persons, who were involved in the hunt of the Devil Catfish. Action is being taken against them,” he said.

The Devil Catfish is protected under the Wildlife Protection Act.