Mangaluru: 8 deer horns have been found in the bag of a woman passenger who was travelling back to America at Mangaluru International Airport. The forest department has registered a case in this regard against the woman’s father who had dropped her to the airport.

In the First Information Report (FIR), the Forest Department Officials have ascertained that the woman, who is from Hirgana in Karkala taluk and a citizen of USA, was taking the horns in her bag as showpieces at her house in the US (United States of America).

A few days back, a 56 year-old woman had to travel to Bengaluru through IndiGo aeroplane, from where she would board another plane for the US. But, when her luggage was being processed through the luggage scanner at MIA, there grew a suspicion on the contents of her bag. When the bag was opened and inspected, the deer horns were revealed. Immediately the woman was subjected to interrogation. “These are old and I am taking them to decorate my house,” she explained.

The officials who believed her words seized the horns and gave her permission to carry on with her journey to Bengaluru. But, the airport staff was suspicious if the deer horns were original or artificial. Therefore they immediately brought the issue to the notice of the officials of the Forest Department Mangaluru Zone and in response the forest officials took the horns into their possession.

“In order to send the horns to my daughter residing in America, the horns were placed in her bags. But, I did not know that taking them this way was beyond the limits of the law,” said the father of the woman accepting his fault with the officials, it’s being said.

A senior official said “8kg deer horns were found with a woman at MIA and have been confiscated. This is the first time such an incident has occurred in our zone and a case has been registered against the father of the woman for illegal possession of the horns and for the attempt to transport it under the Wildlife Conservation Act.

It seems like the horns are at least 60-70 years old. Many people keep deer horns as showpieces in their houses and there is opportunity for this under the law. However, this family had not registered this with the forest department nor taken permission. The truth will surface only after a comprehensive investigation,” he informed.

According to the Forest Act, any deer horns got or possessed before 1972 (before the law was passed) can be kept at home. But, the old deer horns must be produced before the Forest department and a confirmation letter must me procured. If not, the Department can seize the horns on the charges of illegal possession. For this reason, the Forest Department releases an announcement every year to create awareness amongst the people.

The Forest Department has registered a case against the father of the woman under the Wildlife conservation Act of 1972. Later, the officials visited their house at Hirgana and conducted investigation. From the FIR, it has been ascertained that the 8kg deer horns were indeed used as decoration item at the house since many years. But, as per the Forest Act, permission is required from the forest department to keep the horns in this manner. But, there was no permission letter in the house.