Azernews.Az

By Rashid Shirinov

Seven people have been arrested in an operation organized by Azerbaijan’s State Border Service and the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources against poaching.

The arrests were made in a joint raid of the Border Service and Ministry in the Shin village in Shaki region, the Service reported on October 31.

An inspection of the URAL car, belonging to the arrested, revealed seven hunting rifles, as well as a dead bear and a two-month bear cub.

The poachers were handed over to the law enforcement agency.

Azerbaijan is home to brown bear, an ordinary forest dweller that rarely appears in lowland forests. Brown bears are concentrated mainly in the upper forest belt. The first heavy snow in late autumn or early winter usually drives them into their den. Healthy and well-fed bears lie in dens in late December which they arrange in caves, piles of fallen trees, and then fall asleep until spring.

Bears awaken in early spring. Adult bears wake up first and go hunting. If a bear wakes up early, it can be a big threat to the person who has awakened him and those who live near its territory.

Hunting brown bear is prohibited in Azerbaijan.

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Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov

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