3 Leopard Hides Seized in Baripada Division, School Teacher Among Seven Detained

In a major crackdown against smuggling of wildlife items, forest officials in Mayurbhanj on Tuesday seized three leopard hides in Baripada forest division close to Similipal, and detained seven persons including a school teacher in this connection.

- EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE @ Bhubaneswar

Forest officials said the hides were seized from Khunta and Betnoti range of Baripada following a joint crackdown by the field staff of Baripada, Similipal South and Balasore wildlife divisions.

Field director of Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR)-cum-RCCF Baripada, Prakash Chand Gogineni said the special task force of STR also supported in carrying out the raid. "One leopard hide was recovered from Khunta while the other two were seized from the possession of the accused in Betnoti. All the accused detained in connection with the seizure are middlemen and traders," Gogineni said.