The Forest Department has penalised five persons for their involvement in poaching rabbits in the jungles of Sirumugai range in the district.

The department officials were on the evening rounds yesterday and noticed five persons moving around in a suspicious manner. On searching, they found six rabbits in a bag, of which two were dead, department sources said today.

After releasing the live rabbits into the jungles, the officials informed the District Forest Officer, who asked them to penalise the poachers.

Accordingly, the persons were ordered to pay Rs. 5,000 each and let off.