In what is believed to be the highest ever fine imposed for poaching in India, forest officials in Chandauli district near Lucknow asked 12 poachers to cough up a staggering US $208,550.

On November 17, these poachers were arrested and penalised. All these offenders are wealthy businessmen. Divisional Forest Officer Ramesh Pandey said that the poachers were freed after paying half of the fine and promising to pay the rest within a week. Weapons and ammunition worth Rs 7 lakh were seized from the poachers.

Pandey revealed that the poachers were arrested before they could kill any animals. When grilled, they sang like canaries, making a candid submission that they had gone to the forest with the intention of poaching.