In a case that has triggered alarm over public health safety and the illegal wildlife trade, two men were arrested in Tamil Nadu’s Salem district for allegedly hunting fruit bats and selling their meat disguised as chicken at roadside fast-food stalls.
The incident came to light following a raid conducted by the Forest Department in the Thoppur Ramasamy forest area. Acting on reports from local residents who had heard gunshots in the vicinity, forest officials launched an operation and caught the suspects red-handed. The two men were found boiling bat meat on-site in preparation for sale.
During interrogation, the accused—identified as Kamal, aged 36, and Selvam, aged 35—admitted to passing off the bat meat as “chilli chicken” and other popular dishes at food stalls operating in the Danishpettai area of Omalur. Officials confirmed that the unsuspecting public had consumed the meat believing it to be chicken.
“This is a very serious offence both from a wildlife conservation and public health perspective,” said Ranger Vimal Kumar, who led the enforcement operation. “We have taken the two into custody, and a larger investigation is ongoing to determine the full extent of this illegal activity and whether others are involved.”
Experts have expressed grave concern over the practice, warning of the severe health hazards linked to the consumption of bat meat. Fruit bats are known carriers of several deadly zoonotic viruses, including Nipah, Ebola, Marburg, and Rabies. The risk is heightened when the meat is undercooked or improperly handled, which can lead to outbreaks of fatal diseases.
“This isn’t just a legal violation—it’s a potential public health catastrophe,” said one virologist familiar with zoonotic disease transmission. “Bats serve as natural reservoirs for some of the world’s most dangerous viruses. Consuming their meat, especially without any veterinary inspection or hygiene protocol, is an invitation to disaster.”
Officials also drew parallels with similar incidents reported in the past. In early 2024, over 50 people reportedly died in the Democratic Republic of Congo after consuming infected bat meat. In India, cases involving other types of illegal wildlife meat have been documented in recent years. In 2020, crow meat was discovered being sold in Rameswaram; in 2021, rat and dog meat cases surfaced in Bengaluru; and in 2023, suspicions of unidentified meat at the Bengaluru railway station triggered widespread outrage.
The two accused were charged under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, and remanded to judicial custody. Authorities said further investigations were underway to uncover possible links to a broader network of poachers and unauthorised vendors.
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