STF recovers two pangolins in Boudh
- Bhubaneswar: A Special Task Force (STF) with the help of forest officials of Boudh Forest division on Wednesday conducted a raid near the Boudh Bypass and seized two pangolins, from smugglers.
- In an official statement, the STF said two persons have been arrested in this connection. They have been identified as Uchhab Kanhar and Prasant Kumar Behera, both hailing from Boudh. The STF has arrested the person for illegal possession of wildlife product and animals.
- The STF statement said the two recovered live pangolins weigh 13 kg and 10 kg respectively. Other in-criminating materials were also recovered during the raid. The officials said the accused persons could not produce any document in support of their illegal possession.
- "We have registered a case under the Wildlife (Protection) Act of 1972 and forwarded the accused per- sons to the court. The live pangolins have also been handed over to Boudh Forest division for safe custody. An investigation is also on," an STF official said.
- Pangolin is a Schedule-I protected animal under Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. Schedule I provides absolute protection to the pangolins and offences and violators invite highest penalties.
- In 2022, the officials arrested 42 people under the Wildlife Protection Act. They also seized 14 leopard skins, one Royal Bengal Tiger skin, 22 kg of pangolin scale, two live pangolins, 14 elephant tusk and 16 parrots the same year.