Deer carcass found inside Garmian home as suspect arrested after gunfire

GARMIAN — Police in the Garmian administration discovered the body of a deer inside a house in the village of Markaz, Qoratu subdistrict, and arrested one suspect following reports of gunfire, local authorities said Friday.

Hawre Jalil, head of the Khanaqin branch of the Garmian Forestry and Environment Police, told 964media that officers responded after multiple gunshots were heard in the village the previous night.

“We suspected hunters and went to the village. We found a deer’s head, but the hunters had escaped,” Jalil said. “Police saw the hunters enter a house. After obtaining an official warrant, we searched the home and found the deer’s body.”

Authorities confiscated a vehicle, two motorcycles, and two weapons left at the scene, Jalil said, adding that arrest warrants have been issued for other suspects. The arrested individual, he noted, had a prior hunting record, and videos of hunting activities were found on his mobile phone.

The Garmian region is home to diverse wildlife, including deer and gazelles, which face increasing threats from poaching and drought. Environmental authorities say the deer population has fallen sharply, from about 12,000 in 2013 to fewer than 5,000 in 2020, largely due to hunting and illegal trade.

In January, amid severe drought, environmental activists in Rzgary subdistrict launched a campaign to deliver drinking water to wild animals and birds. The latest incident has renewed calls for stronger enforcement of anti-poaching laws in the area.