Nabarangpur: Forest officials have seized a live pangolin and arrested three persons for trying to sell the animal in Odisha’ Nabarangpur.
Following reliable information about the sale of the pangolin, a three teams of Forest officials were formed by Nabarangpur DFO Subhendu Prasad Behera. The teams moved to Deodangari forest under Kodinga forest range near Baraguda village and kept a close watch on wildlife smugglers.
Meanwhile, three persons carrying a bag came on a motorcycle to the forest. The forest officials nabbed them and on checking the bag, they found the live pangolin.
The wildlife smugglers were planning to sell the pangolin at a cost of around Rs 5 lakh. The forest officials seized the pangolin and arrested the three persons. The pangolin weighed around 7.5 kg and is of 4-5 years in age.
All the arrested persons belonging to Koraput district were forwarded to court on Sunday.