Protected Indian Fox Killed in Road Accident

-Warangal: Article II of the Wildlife Protection Act. A male Indian fox (Vulpes bengalensis), a scheduled species with high legal protection, was found dead in a suspicious road accident in the wee hours of Monday on the main road connecting Guniparthi and Shanigaram villages in Kamalapur mandal of Hanamkonda district.

The carcass was discovered by members of the Orugallu Wildlife Society (OWLS). Representatives Shyam Sundar and Ravi Babu said that the Indian fox, like the Golden Jackal, also enjoys high legal protection under the Wildlife Protection (Amendment) Act, 2022. Representatives noted that this status requires strict legal procedures to prevent illegal trade in wildlife parts, including official reporting and government-supervised destruction.

Following the notice, regional forest officer B. Lavanya said that forest officials were immediately sent to the region to recover the carcass and initiate an investigation. He said authorities were examining the circumstances surrounding the accident and tracking the animal’s movement patterns. The carcass was transported to the Veterinary Hospital in Chinthagattu for mandatory post-mortem to determine the exact cause of death.

After receiving the post-mortem report, the forest department will dispose of the remains by cremation or burial as prescribed in the Wildlife Act protocols. DFO assured that all legal and conservation procedures were strictly followed, considering the conservation status of the species.

Conservationists from OWLS stressed that harming Schedule II species is a serious crime and urged the administration to declare the area a wildlife corridor. They called for safety measures such as speed breakers and warning signs to protect nocturnal wildlife.