Another Pangolin Trade Racket Busted In Odisha’s Cuttack

Cuttack: Another wildlife trade racket in the district came to light when a team of Special Task Force (STF) of Odisha Crime Branch rescued a pangolin and arrested a person on Tuesday evening.

According to a press release, on the basis of reliable information about a deal to sell a live pangolin, the STF officials conducted a raid near Biribati Canal Road in Kandarpur.

During the raid, they nabbed Santosh Kumar Dalai of Gumutipur village in Dhiasahi of Jagatsinghpur district and seized the live pangolin and some incriminating materials from his possession.

As Dalai could not produce any document regarding possession of the pangolin, he was arrested. The accused was forwarded to court on Wednesday.

Earlier this month, a special team of Forest officials had busted a pangolin smuggling racket and arrested two persons in Shankarpur of the city.

All eight species of pangolin are protected under national and international laws and two of them are listed as critically endangered species as per the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

Also Read: Pangolin Smuggling Racket Busted, 2 Arrested In Odisha’s Cuttack