Nuapada: The seven-member team of Odisha Vigilance’s forest wing seized a leopard hide and arrested an alleged poacher in Udyanbandh forest range under Khadial forest division in Nuapada district Tuesday, officials said.
The accused, identified as Inayat Ali, a resident of Kumutimunda village under Jadhamunda panchayat and Komna police station limits, was arrested for allegedly violating Section 9 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. The offence is punishable under Section 51 of the Act. He was allegedly caught while attempting to sell the leopard skin to a prospective buyer.
Acting on information about the alleged illegal trade in leopard skins and claws in the area, the Vigilance team had been conducting regular patrols in the area on the direction of the Odisha Vigilance director. According to officials, Ali arrived at Udyanbandh on a motorcycle carrying the leopard skin and was negotiating with a prospective buyer when the team intercepted him.
The skin was later identified as that of a leopard. Officials are investigating the source of the skin, whether other people were involved in the alleged wildlife trade and whether more leopard hides or claws are in circulation. The Forest Department is also probing whether Ali allegedly hunted the animal himself or obtained the skin from others. The seized skin will be sent to the Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, for biological examination.
Further investigation is underway, officials said. Notably, leopards are listed under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, which provides the highest level of protection to the species. Wildlife activists have raised concern over leopard poaching in Odisha, purporting that the animals are increasingly being targeted by organised poaching networks. They said leopard skins are in demand in illegal international markets, making the species vulnerable to poaching.
