Jayapur: A special team from Gujarat Directorate of Revenue Intelligence seized a leopard hide following a raid in Koraput’s Jayapur, forest officials said Tuesday.
The team also arrested a person identified as Bibhuti Bhushan Patra, a resident of the Irrigation Colony area of Jayapur, while he was allegedly trying to sell the hide, Jayapur Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Prashant Kumar Patel said.
According to officials, the Gujarat DRI team conducted the raid Monday in connection with a ganja smuggling case. During the operation, the team caught Patra while he was allegedly attempting to sell the leopard hide. The seized hide and the vehicle used in the operation were handed over to the Jayapur Forest Division.
Officials are investigating where the skin came from and whether others were involved in the trade. A preliminary examination suggests the leopard may have been killed about six months ago. The skin was found fully intact and dried.
It measured 141 cm from the nose to the base of the tail, with the tail measuring 98 cm. Its maximum body width was 54 cm and head width 36 cm. The front and hind legs measured 175 cm and 172 cm, respectively. A hole-like mark was found on the right side of the neck.
Officials suspect it could have been caused by a bullet or a sharp weapon during the killing. A case has been registered under the Wildlife Protection Act and an investigation is underway to determine when and where the animal was killed and how its skin reached Jayapur.
The seizure, reportedly made near the Jayapur DFO’s office, has also raised questions about how the Forest department failed to detect the illegal wildlife trade in the area.
