Muscat: Two hunters have been arrested after a police investigation into a shooting at the Wadi Sarin Nature Reserve in February.
The reserve is a protected wildlife reserve where hunting is illegal.
The men admitted to the shooting and are awaiting trial.
The bullets fired had narrowly missed two rangers who were on their lunch break.
Conservation of the Environment, a group tasked with protecting wildlife, expressed outrage over the incident.
“This is an uncivilised attack on staff who dedicate their lives to saving wildlife,” a statement issued by the group said.
The group called on judicial authorities to issue the hunters the maximum penalty.
The Wadi Sarin Nature Reserve was established in 1975 and is famous for its Arabian Tahr, gazelle, leopards and birds.
Oman gives a great importance to wildlife and environment protection.
It has several nature reserves including the Damaniyat Islands, Ras Al Hadd, Arabian Oryx Sanctuary, Saleel Nature Park, Jebel Samhan Nature Reserve, and Khawrs Reserve of Dhofar Coast.
Hunters target Arabian gazelles, dead or alive, and smuggle them out of the country where they can sell them for a high price.
Under Omani law, the fine for poaching ranges from 1,000 to 5,000 riyals.
Hunters and smugglers can be jailed for up to five years.
Carrying an unlicensed hunting rifle carries a minimum jail term of one year and a fine of 500 riyals.
In 2016, 12 men were arrested over incidents of hunting gazelles and birds.
