Muscat – Wildlife rangers of the Environment Authority (EA) and the Royal Oman Police have arrested poachers for killing four Arabain gazelles in South Sharqiyah governorate.

In a statement, EA said, ‘the General Directorate of Environment in South Sharqiyah, in cooperation with ROP, arrested three people for hunting four Arabain gazelles in Qudi area. Those arrested were referred to the competent authorities for legal action against them.

On its official Twitter handle, the Environment Authority said, ‘We confirm that these actions are in clear violation of the Law on Nature Reserves and Wildlife Conservation, and the act is punishable by imprisonment and a fine for anyone who causes disruption in nature conservation areas.’ It added that it will not tolerate violation of the law. ‘We call on all visitors to these areas to quickly report any violation in 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 subjected to imprisonment for a period not less then six months and not exceeding five years and a fine not less then RO1,000 and not exceeding RO5,000 or any one of the two penalties.