Nine-member trekking group, including two women, held for ‘cooking and consuming alcohol’ inside eco-sensitive Seshachalam biosphere in Annamayya district

Forest officials arrest group for trespassing, trekking, camping, and cooking illegally in Seshachalam biosphere, posing risks to wildlife and visitors.

The forest officials of Annamayya district took nine persons, including two women, into custody on charges of trespassing into the reserve forests of Seshachalam biosphere and illegally conducting trekking, camping and cooking inside the ecologically sensitive Talakona forest beat, which is considered the core belt of the Sri Venkateswara National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary.

Addressing a press conference here on Monday, District Forest Officer R. Jagannath Singh said that acting on reliable information about this act of trespassing into the forest area and organising commercial activities, a special team tracked and apprehended the accused deep inside the protected biosphere on Sunday night. “We have seized camping gear, cooking utensils and liquor bottles from their possession,” the IFS officer said.

Mr. Singh confirmed that the group was caught while cooking and consuming alcohol inside the forest, “which is a very serious offence under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.” He clarified that unauthorised entry, igniting fire for cooking or any other purpose, and consumption of alcohol would endanger the wildlife species and pose a grave risk of forest fires.

As per initial probe, this activity was organised by one Soma Sekar, who runs an Instagram page to lure adventure lovers. Pradeep, Naveen, Likith, and Sravaya would work as his accomplices. Sekar allegedly collected money from the interested picnic lovers and conducted unauthorised treks, and created space for the visitors for camping and unlawful activities.

The DFO expressed serious concern over the rise of illegal adventure groups promoting unregulated forest activities through social media platforms. “Tresspassing into the Seshachalam poses a high risk to human life, given the active movement of wild elephants in the Talakona-Gundalakona corridor. In recent months, three people were killed by wild elephants in this region, which is further well populated with leopards and sloth bears,” Mr. Singh said.

“The offenders are liable to face jail terms ranging from three to seven years and fines of ₹10,000 or more. The social media platforms promoting such illegal activities are kept under surveillance,” the DFO said.