Garmian authorities arrest two for killing fox

GARMIAN — Authorities in Sulaymaniyah’s Garmian Administration arrested two suspects accused of killing a fox in the Pebaz subdistrict and seized their vehicle and weapon, a local police spokesperson said Wednesday.

Hashim Ali, spokesperson for Garmian’s Forestry and Environment Police, told 964media that officers from the Pebaz station apprehended the suspects in Kaleshar village. “At the time of their arrest, the two violators were in possession of a Nissan Patrol vehicle, a firearm, and a handheld spotlight, all of which were seized,” Ali said.

The suspects have been referred to the Kalar investigative court for legal proceedings.

Illegal hunting remains a major concern in the area. Earlier this week, environmental police in Sulaymaniyah arrested two individuals on Saturday for illegal hunting in the Bazian district. In mid-December, three suspected poachers were arrested in the village of Marwe for illegally hunting wild birds.

The 2008 environmental protection and improvement laws in the Kurdistan Region strictly ban the hunting, killing, capturing, possession, or trading of endangered species. Offenders face penalties including up to one month in prison and fines between 150,000 and 200 million dinars. Repeat violations result in harsher punishments, with penalties doubling for subsequent offenses.

Hemin Kamerkhan, spokesperson for Sulaymaniyah’s Forestry and Environment Police, previously highlighted efforts to tackle wildlife poaching and safeguard biodiversity, noting that around 30 poachers were arrested and prosecuted in November 2024 alone.

In August 2024, Leopards Beyond Borders—a conservation organization dedicated to protecting endangered species such as Persian leopards and brown bears in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region—proposed establishing ranger forces, or “Nature Peshmerga,” to enhance local wildlife protection.