Muscat – Wildlife rangers of Environment Authority (EA) and Royal Oman Police (ROP) arrested two poachers for violating provisions of the wildlife law on Wednesday.

The authority, in cooperation with ROP, arrested citizens who had infringed upon the wildlife by hunting migratory birds. The ministry officials seized vehicles and various items used for poaching.

Legal procedures have been initiated against them, it added.

‘We confirm that these actions are clear violations of the Law on Nature Reserves and Wildlife Conservation. Such acts are punishable by imprisonment and fines for those causing disruptions in nature conservation areas,’ EA tweeted.

The authority added that violation of the law is unacceptable. ‘We call on all visitors to these areas to report any violation on the hotline 80071999.’

According to Royal Decree No 6/2003 on the Law on Nature Reserves and Wildlife Conservation, anyone who intentionally kills, hunts or smuggles any animal or bird, including Arabian Oryx, Arabian leopard, Arabian tahr, Reem or Sand gazelle, Nubian ibex, Striped hyena, Arabian gazelle, Houbara bustard and Caracal, or their genetic material, will be imprisoned for a period not less than six months and not exceeding five years. Fines will range from RO1,000 to RO5,000, or any combination of the two penalties.