Police in Oddar Meanchey’s Trapaing Prasat district are searching for a hunter who shot a logger after mistaking him for an animal.

Trapaing Prasat district police deputy chief Yim Yath said Him Rose, 39, injured 18-year-old Cheav Seth on Monday night in O’Svay commune.

According to Yath, Rose lit a fire to spook animals. However, the flame instead spooked three men on their way back to their homes after illegally felling luxury wood.

“He used a home-made gun to shoot [Seth] because he thought that he was wild animal,” Yath said.

Yath said the men took their friend – shot in both legs – to hospital, while the hunter is now on the lam.