<p>With over 300 cases registered last year, Uttar Pradesh (UP) remains high on the list of wildlife crimes in the country. </p>.<p>According to official statistics, as many as 25 tigers were killed by poachers in the state in the past 10 years. Ace Indian golfer Jyoti Randhawa was arrested a few months back on charges of poaching in the Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary. A jungle fowl and an animal hide, suspected to be of sambhar, was recovered from his possession.</p>.<p><strong>ALSO READ: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/specials/insight/deadly-game-wildlife-trade-puts-species-at-risk-751922.html" target="_blank">Deadly game: Wildlife trade puts species at risk</a></strong></p>.<p>Besides tigers and sambhars, another animal that is targeted is the owl. Hundreds of owls were killed in the state, especially during the Diwali festival, by <span class="italic">tantriks</span> (exorcists). “Owls are in high demand during Diwali. Some people think that sacrificing the owls will bring them prosperity,’’ said Prof A K Sharma, a former faculty in the Department of Zoology at Lucknow University. UP has a forest cover of 6.88 per cent and has one National Park and 23 wildlife sanctuaries.</p>
<p>With over 300 cases registered last year, Uttar Pradesh (UP) remains high on the list of wildlife crimes in the country. </p>.<p>According to official statistics, as many as 25 tigers were killed by poachers in the state in the past 10 years. Ace Indian golfer Jyoti Randhawa was arrested a few months back on charges of poaching in the Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary. A jungle fowl and an animal hide, suspected to be of sambhar, was recovered from his possession.</p>.<p><strong>ALSO READ: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/specials/insight/deadly-game-wildlife-trade-puts-species-at-risk-751922.html" target="_blank">Deadly game: Wildlife trade puts species at risk</a></strong></p>.<p>Besides tigers and sambhars, another animal that is targeted is the owl. Hundreds of owls were killed in the state, especially during the Diwali festival, by <span class="italic">tantriks</span> (exorcists). “Owls are in high demand during Diwali. Some people think that sacrificing the owls will bring them prosperity,’’ said Prof A K Sharma, a former faculty in the Department of Zoology at Lucknow University. UP has a forest cover of 6.88 per cent and has one National Park and 23 wildlife sanctuaries.</p>