The Bishnoi community in Rajasthan is known to defend their flora and fauna at all costs and there have been several such examples in history.
Recently, a 15-year-old boy from the same community in a Rajasthan village showed exemplary bravery when he fought 4 poachers who had hunted a Chinkara.

An NGO, Ecology Rural Development & Sustainability Foundation (The ERDS Foundation), reported and confirmed the incident first.
He is Mukesh Bishnoi, Age 15 yrs, Class 10 student. Yesterday night heard a gun shot, ran towards that direction with two of his other friends. Had a faceoff with two armed (Licensed 303 Rifle) Chinkara poachers. Able to overpowered gunned poacher after a good tussle. pic.twitter.com/Hvk4HAVGcI
— The ERDS Foundation (@and_ecology) May 11, 2020
Mukesh and his friend Pukhraj were conducting a routine night patrol on 10th May, when they heard a gunshot.
The two boys immediately rushed towards the spot and had a faceoff with 4 armed men who had just hunted a Chinkara. They confronted the poachers fearlessly despite them being armed with guns.

Mukesh informed The Better India that two poachers escaped with the Chinkara first and then the other two also managed to flee. The poachers clearly outnumbered Mukesh and his friend.
They were four of them and they also had a weapon which I caught hold off, but I was pushed to the ground, and that is when they made their escape.

When asked if he wasn’t afraid for his life, Mukesh said:
Not even for a moment. This is my duty and there is nothing to be fearful of.
Chinkara is the state animal of Rajasthan and gets the highest protection under laws.
Mukesh has been working for wildlife conservation in Rajasthan and he along with his team cracked two other poaching incidents previously.

Mukesh is seen narrating the entire incident in this video posted by the ERDS.
Here is complete incident, narrated by himself only. @ParveenKaswan @CentralIfs @DrBhageerathIRS @my_rajasthan @MlaSanchore @sumitdookia @Saket_Badola @SanctuaryAsia @BittuSahgal @HCL_Foundation @WWFINDIA @IUCNAsia @TilotamaVarma @WCCBHQ @WCT_India @WCSIndia pic.twitter.com/dQIPlygWmX
— The ERDS Foundation (@and_ecology) May 12, 2020
He is very courageous. His efforts should be duly encouraged.
— Ankit Kumar, IFS (@AnkitKumar_IFS) May 12, 2020
Netizens appreciated the efforts of the young boy towards conserving the wildlife after the news went viral on social media.
Hats off to Mukesh Bishnoi. Bishnoi community has always been at forefront to protect and save wildlife from poachers. Appreciate their bravery and grit. 👏
— Devika (@Dayweekaa) May 11, 2020
Great job by Mukesh. Hope somehow he can come to know how people from the entire country are proud of him.
— Ayan Kumar Das (@Ayan_Dastweets) May 11, 2020
Wow!!! Hats off to the Kiddos, for taking it up on themselves for fighting poachers. Great job, and hope he gets well rewarded to continue doing good work towards saving wildlife 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
— @ul V (@AttulV) May 11, 2020
I thank you for your good and noble work
— Hari Shankar* (@harishankarok) May 12, 2020
After Mukesh informed the forest department about the incident, a case has been registered by the local police.