DRI seizes leopard pelts, tortoises, pangolin scales and tiger bones in six wildlife trafficking operations

New Delhi, September 10: The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has intensified its crackdown on illegal wildlife trafficking, conducting six intelligence-led operations across India over the last 10 days and recovering protected wildlife and animal parts.

 

 

The operations resulted in the seizure of two leopard pelts, 180 live Indian Star Tortoises, 12 live Tokay Geckos, around 24 kg of pangolin scales and 500 grams of tiger bones. The DRI said 13 persons were arrested in connection with the operations.

 

On September 7, DRI officers in Jeypore, Koraput district, Odisha, intercepted a person and recovered one leopard pelt. Leopards are protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. The accused and the pelt were handed over to the Koraput Forest Department for further investigation.

 

On September 5 and 6, DRI officials, working with the Forest Department in Sidhi, Madhya Pradesh, intercepted four people linked to an alleged leopard skin trafficking network. One leopard skin was recovered from two persons travelling in a Mahindra Thar. Follow-up searches led to the identification of two other members of the suspected syndicate and the recovery of further evidence linked to alleged poaching, possession and transportation of leopard parts.

 

 

 

 

On September 7, another DRI operation near Gandhinagar, Bengaluru, led to the recovery of 180 live Indian Star Tortoises concealed inside six cloth covers in a person’s baggage.

 

The Wildlife Crime Control Bureau identified the species as Geochelone elegans. It is listed under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. The tortoises were seized and the accused was arrested.

 

In Ri-Bhoi district, Meghalaya, DRI officers intercepted a Bolero truck travelling towards Mawhati on September 7 and recovered 14.68 kg of dried pangolin scales packed in three bags.

 

 

An earlier operation in Karbi Anglong, Assam, on August 28 led to the recovery of around 9 kg of pangolin scales and approximately 500 grams of tiger bone with skull and teeth. Three persons were apprehended in the operation.Pangolins are protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act and listed under Appendix I of CITES.

 

On September 5, DRI officers in Keokhali, Assam, intercepted two persons and recovered 12 live Tokay Geckos. The species is protected under Schedule I and listed under CITES Appendix II. The geckos and accused persons were handed over to the Forest Department for further action.