Bhubaneswar: In a significant operation against wildlife trafficking, forest officials from Odisha and Chhattisgarh seized 765 pangolin scales and arrested four individuals in Nuapada district on Saturday.
According to reports, acting on a tip-off about an illicit deal involving a large quantity of pangolin scales, a joint team from the Khariar Forest Department in Odisha and the Udaanthi-Sita River Wildlife Sanctuary in Chhattisgarh conducted a raid in Shukhamal village under the Komna Forest Range.
The arrested individuals have been identified as Kumud Hans and Santosh Hans of Gobindpur village, and Narhari Gahir and Chaturbhuj Katama of Shukhamal village.
Following the raid, the Forest Department filed a case against the accused and presented them in court. The operation underscores the ongoing efforts of authorities to combat the illegal trade of wildlife and protect endangered species like the pangolin.