DRI Seizes Leopard Pelts, 180 Tortoises in Wildlife Crackdown
Six pan-India operations uncover protected wildlife and derivatives; 13 persons arrested
- DRI seized two leopard skins, 180 live Indian Star Tortoises and 12 Tokay Geckos.
- Around 24 kg of pangolin scales and 500 grams of tiger bones were also recovered.
- Six operations were conducted across Odisha, Karnataka, Meghalaya, Madhya Pradesh and Assam.
- Thirteen persons were arrested in the crackdown on illegal wildlife trafficking.
GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 10th Sept: The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has seized protected wildlife and animal derivatives in six intelligence-led operations conducted across the country over the past 10 days, leading to the arrest of 13 persons.
The seizures included two leopard pelts, 180 live Indian Star Tortoises, 12 live Tokay Geckos, around 24 kg of pangolin scales and approximately 500 grams of tiger bones.
On September 7, DRI officers in Jeypore, Odisha, intercepted a person and recovered a leopard pelt. The leopard is protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. The person and pelt were handed over to the Koraput State Forest Department for further action.
The same day, DRI officers near Gandhinagar in Bengaluru intercepted a person and recovered 180 live Indian Star Tortoises concealed in six cloth covers. The Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) identified the species as Geochelone elegans, listed under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act. The tortoises were seized and the accused arrested.
In another operation on September 7, DRI intercepted a Bolero truck in Meghalaya’s Ri-Bhoi district and recovered 14.68 kg of dried pangolin scales packed in three bags. Pangolins are protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act and listed in Appendix I of CITES. The scales, vehicle and apprehended person were handed over to the Range Forest Officer, Nongpoh.
During an operation on September 5–6 in Sidhi district, Madhya Pradesh, DRI, in coordination with the Forest Department, intercepted four persons linked to an alleged leopard skin trade network. One leopard skin was recovered from two persons travelling in a Mahindra Thar. Follow-up searches led to the identification of two additional alleged members of the syndicate and recovery of evidence related to suspected poaching, possession, transportation and proposed sale of leopard skin and its parts.
On September 5, DRI officers in Keokhali, Assam, intercepted two persons and recovered 12 live Tokay Geckos. The species is listed under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act and CITES Appendix II. The geckos and the accused persons were handed over to the Range Forest Officer, Biswanath Wildlife Division.
Earlier, on August 28, DRI officers in Karbi Anglong, Assam, intercepted three persons travelling in a vehicle and recovered around 9 kg of pangolin scales and approximately 0.5 kg of tiger bone set with skull and teeth. The wildlife articles and vehicle were seized, and the three persons were handed over to the Forest Range Officer, Bokolia.
The DRI said the diverse recoveries highlight the different forms in which protected wildlife is trafficked, from live animals to skins, scales and animal parts. The operations were carried out in coordination with Forest Departments, the WCCB and other enforcement agencies under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
