Hyena caught in trap near Agra, rescued

Agra, Nov 25 : A six-year-old hyena was found trapped in a deadly jaw trap set up by poachers in Phulpur village of Agra district. The critically injured hyena, a protected species, was rescued and is under treatment.

Volunteers of Wildlife SOS rescued the animal.

The animal's right forelimb was caught in the hunting device and to make matters worse, the trap was coiled around a branch making it difficult for the hyena to even move. Shocked to find the animal desperately struggling to free itself, local farmers immediately alerted the Forest Department, who in turn called Wildlife SOS.

With rescue equipment in hand, a four-member rescue team comprising trained rescuers along with two forest officials rushed to the village, located in Fatehabad district of Agra, nearly 40 km from the centre. The hyena was in critical condition and in need of immediate medical intervention.

Dr. Ilayaraja, Deputy Director Veterinary Services, Wildlife SOS, said, "The jaw trap had caused severe bleeding in the right forelimb region and his condition is critical. The external wounds have been disinfected and we have administered topical treatment along with analgesics and anti-inflammatory medication. We are yet to conduct a radiographic examination to determine the extent of the internal injuries and to confirm the presence of a possible fracture."

Baiju Raj, Director - Conservation Projects Wildlife SOS said, "The animal must have been trapped for hours and was semi-conscious when the team arrived. There is an urgent need to educate the public about the illegality of such offences in order to curb poaching. The Striped hyena (Hyaena hyaena) is listed as Near Threatened in the IUCN Red list and is protected under Schedule III of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972."

Deputy Conservator of Forester, Sidharth said, "As soon as we heard about the incident, we called Wildlife SOS and their team was prompt in carrying out the rescue. The forest Department will be investigating this matter closely to bring the culprits to justice."