Dharamshala, March 14 -- A team from the forest department has apprehended five individuals for illegally poaching Himalayan tahr and ghoral in the Jia area near Palampur in Himachal Pradesh's Kangra district.

The incident occurred on Tuesday evening, and the accused are currently in the custody of the forest department, which has launched an investigation into the matter.

Officials recovered five carcasses of the Himalayan Tahr, a species protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, along with one carcass of a Ghoral from their possession. Additionally, two rifles, live cartridges, and knives were seized.

Basu Kaushal, Conservator of Forests (CF), Dharamshala circle, on Thursday said that a tip-off had been received by...