The number of rare birds and animals, including lophophorus, is decreasing in the district due to rampant poaching and smuggling. People are found selling meat of such endangered species openly even in district headquarters Chainpur.

Sources said people in Kada, Surma, Daulichaur, Rilu, Dahabagar, Lekgaun, Melbisauna and Kailash areas hunt the endangered birds using muskets and setting

up traps.

Local residents said smugglers are killing around 15 lophophorus and kalij pheasants and three wild boars, ghoral, jharals and other endangered species every day.

In the district headquarters, a lophophorus is sold for around Rs 3, 000 whereas meat of wild boars, ghorals and jharals costs around Rs 1,200 per kilogram. Likewise, meat of kalij pheasant is sold at Rs 1,500. Even government officials, security personnel and leaders of political parties purchase meat of such endangered species from rural areas. Preferring anonymity, a police post in-charge said they cannot arrest poachers as they supply meat for high-level officials.

Dhana Bahadur Bohara of Rilu said lophophorus will soon be extinct if the situation continues. “We hardly see endangered wild animals these days as their number is decreasing due to poaching,” he said.

A local resident in Daulichaur said they can see wild animals only after walking for two days in highlands.

Police Inspector Devendra Malla, however, said he is unaware of the matter. “There are hunters in each household in villages,” he said, adding that police will take legal action against poachers if complaints are filed.