In the Peshku district of Uzbekistan’s Bukhara region, five men are alleged to have hunted illegally on a protected natural territory in the Karakir massif, killing 13 hares, according to the regional ecology department. During a raid by environmental police, the men reportedly used hunting weapons and banned lighting devices, then refused to allow inspectors to examine their UAZ vehicle and resisted lawful orders. One eco-police officer was injured in the confrontation, received first aid and was taken to hospital. District internal affairs officers were called to the scene, and a pre-investigation inquiry has been opened.
Key Takeaways: Five men are accused of killing 13 hares in the protected Karakir area of Peshku district. Environmental police say the suspects used hunting weapons and prohibited lighting equipment and resisted inspection. One eco-police officer was injured and hospitalized; authorities are conducting a pre-investigation check.
The case highlights continuing pressure on protected natural areas in Uzbekistan, where environmental police conduct raids to curb poaching and enforce wildlife protection rules. Protected territories are meant to preserve biodiversity and ecological balance, and unauthorized hunting can carry legal consequences as well as damage to local fauna. The use of banned lighting devices and hunting weapons in such zones is of particular concern because it can increase pressure on vulnerable wildlife populations. The regional ecology department said the raid was part of routine enforcement work.
According to officials, inspectors tried to stop the UAZ vehicle for an inspection during the raid. The people inside refused to comply with the lawful demands of the eco-police and resisted, leading to a physical conflict. The injured officer was given first aid before being transported to hospital. The district internal affairs department was then brought in to secure the scene and assist with the response. No further details about the officer’s condition or the identities of the suspects were immediately released.
Authorities have launched a pre-investigation inquiry to establish the circumstances of the incident and determine what legal assessment should follow. Officials said additional information would be provided after the check is completed. The outcome may depend on findings about the hunting activity, the use of prohibited equipment, the refusal to submit to inspection and the injuries sustained by the officer. The case is being treated as a matter requiring both environmental and law-enforcement scrutiny.
The incident follows an earlier reported case of illegal hare hunting in Surkhandarya region, where a Tashkent resident was found to have killed 13 animals in Termez district. That case, like the Bukhara incident, underscores the challenges facing inspectors as they patrol remote protected areas and confront suspected poachers. Authorities are expected to continue raids and provide updates once the current inquiry reaches a legal conclusion.
Source: podrobno.uz