During a joint operation on Sunday in the Bahalda area of the Mayurbhanj district of Odisha, forest department authorities detained three accused with three phones and siezed four leopard skins, according to DFO Santosh Joshi.
According to sources, during the operation, a joint team of forest department representatives from Baripada, Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR), and Rairangpur detained the group for illegally possessing the leopard hides.
Odisha | In a joint operation led by DFO Baripada and Deputy Director (DD) Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR) South, 4 leopard skins were seized near Bahalda Village in Baripada Forest Division. Three accused arrested & 3 mobile phones have been seized. Further investigation is… pic.twitter.com/rM1mzDhFUV
— ANI (@ANI) July 23, 2023
The joint operation in the village was conducted by the forest department officials in response to a tip about the illegitimate trade of animal body parts.
The arrested suspects are being questioned to find out if they murdered the leopards or bought their hides from some poachers. More information is awaited as the investigation is going on.
The arrest occurred the day after the Odisha Crime Branch’s Special Task Force (STF) detained a wildlife smuggler in Kalahandi district and confiscated three leopard hides and an equal number of deer skins from him.
More details are awaited.
Also Read: 3.2 Magnitude Earthquake Hits Uttarakhand’s Pithoragarh
