Damage of 3 Million Drams Inflicted on Nature Due to Hunting of Bezoar Goat

On December 19 of this year, as a result of joint cooperation between employees of the Environmental and Mining Inspection Body’s Vayots Dzor territorial division, the Yeghegnadzor division of the Police, and the Road Police, a case of illegal hunting of a bezoar goat was uncovered.

This was reported by the Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Armenia.

During a vehicle inspection at the parking lot of the Yeghegnadzor division of the Police, one slaughtered and skinned bezoar goat was found in the trunk of a car.

Interrogation revealed that the animal was illegally hunted by V. Asatryan, a resident of the Ararat region, using his personal weapon.

The hunt took place in the vicinity of the “Harsnasar” restaurant complex in the administrative territory of the Areni community in Vayots Dzor.

Employees of the Environmental and Mining Inspection Body calculated the damage caused to nature at 3 million drams.

It is noted that according to the Armenian law on compensation for damage caused to the animal and plant world due to environmental violations, the compensation fee for hunting and/or destruction of a bezoar goat is set at 3 million drams per unit (regardless of age) in protected areas, this amount is multiplied by five in specially protected areas. Additionally, if the violation has resulted in significant damage (in cases of illegal hunting, significant damage is defined as an amount exceeding two hundred times the minimum wage at the time of the crime), the violator is subject to criminal liability under Article 294, Part 1, Clause 4 of the corresponding legislation.