Poaching clash in Kurdistan Protected Area leaves one dead

An armed clash between environmental protection officers and illegal poachers in the Badr and Parishan Protected Area in Qorveh, Kurdistan province, has resulted in one death.

During a nighttime patrol and monitoring mission, environmental protection units encountered a group of illegal hunters. According to the Kurdistan Environmental Protection Department, the poachers opened fire on the officers, leading to a shootout. One poacher was wounded during the confrontation and was transported by ambulance to a hospital, where he died the following day despite medical efforts.

Authorities recovered the carcasses of two wild goats, an illegal firearm, and other hunting equipment at the scene. The other members of the poaching group managed to escape into the mountainous terrain under the cover of darkness. The incident has been referred to judicial and legal authorities for investigation, and efforts to identify and apprehend the remaining suspects are ongoing.