Leopard Skin & Elephant Tusk Seized, One Detained In Odisha’s Deogarh

Deogarh: A team of Special Task Force (STF) seized a leopard skin, elephant tusk and pangolin scales in the district on Thursday.

Acting on a tip-off, the STF team along with Deogarh Forest officials conducted a raid on a house along NH 49 near Telibani under Deogarh police limits.

During search of the house, they seized the leopard skin, elephant tusk, pangolin scales weighing 1.7 kg and other incriminating materials from possession of the house owner Madan Kumar Jayapura. He belongs to Barghat under Reamal police limits in the district.

As Madan could not produce any document in support of possession of the wildlife products, he was detained and later, handed over to Deogarh Forest Officials. Further investigation into the matter is on.

The seized products will be sent to Wildlife Institute of India, Deharadun for chemical examination, according to an official release.

The STF has seized 25 leopard skins, 13 elephant tusks, seven deer skins, nine live pangolins and more than 16 kg pangolin scales during its special drive against the wildlife criminals and poachers since 2020. As many as 55 wildlife criminals have been arrested.