Wild Goat poacher arrested in Sulaimani, Iraqi Kurdistan

A wild goat killed by a poacher in Sulaimani, Iraqi Kurdistan, on November 20, 2024. Photo: Police

SULAIMANI, Iraqi Kurdistan region,— Authorities in Sulaimani Governorate in Iraqi Kurdistan region have apprehended a man accused of killing a wild goat, violating conservation laws and a government-issued stay-at-home advisory during the ongoing census period.

In a statement, the Directorate of Forest and Environment Police confirmed the arrest, stating, “On the evening of Wednesday, November 20, 2024, an individual ventured into the Baranan Mountains and killed a wild goat despite repeated warnings to avoid outdoor activities during the census period.”

Tracking the suspect proved challenging due to the remote and rugged terrain. However, after extensive efforts, a combined team from the Darbandikhan Forest Police and the Bawekhushin station successfully located and detained the poacher.

Authorities also confiscated the suspect’s weapon and camera as evidence. The man is now in custody and has been referred to the judiciary for further legal proceedings.

This incident underscores ongoing concerns about illegal hunting in the Kurdistan region, despite strict wildlife protection laws. Hunting has been prohibited under the Environmental Protection and Improvement Law of 2008, which imposes significant penalties, including fines of up to 10 million Iraqi dinars (approximately $8,700) for killing protected species such as deer.

In July 2024, the body of a rare wild bear was discovered in the Choman district of Erbil province, also believed to have been killed illegally.

The Forestry Police and Environment Directorate’s 2022 report revealed that 889 individuals were arrested in 2021 for breaching environmental and hunting regulations.

Conservationists warn that illegal hunting continues to pose a severe threat to biodiversity in Iraqi Kurdistan, driving several species toward extinction.

There is also mounting frustration over the perceived inability of authorities to enforce the law effectively, particularly when offenders have connections to powerful political families in the region.

Efforts to combat poaching remain a high priority, as environmental activists and officials alike call for stronger measures to protect the region’s vulnerable wildlife.