Odisha Forest Officer Susmita Lenka Receives UN Award; Vows To End Pangolin Smuggling

Bhubaneswar: Female forest officer from Odisha, Sasmita Lenka, who has been awarded the United Nation’s Asia Environmental Enforcement Award thanks to her splendid work in busting pangolin smuggling rackets in the state, said she won’t stop until the pangolins are saved from extinction.

Divisional Forest Officer of Athagarh, Lenka received the award under the ‘Gender Leadership and Impact’ category.

The lady officer helped in busting an international racket of pangolin in Athagarh. Lenka had also announced Rs 10,000 reward for information about the suspects.

“We have seized three pangolins, including a dead one, and arrested 28 smugglers. The pangolins were being supplied to China, Vietnam, and Myanmar for black marketing…I’m glad my work was noticed. But it’ll only stop once the pangolin is saved from extinction,” Lenka was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.

“The announcement of cash reward received a huge response as residents across 30 villages reached out with information. This helped us to take action against several criminals,” the officer further said.

Lenka is also credited for conducting several campaigns to create awareness among the locals about the illegal pangolin trade which are considered as critically endangered on the IUCN red list of threatened species, the report said.

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