Bhubaneswar: In a major wildlife crime bust, a mother-son duo has been arrested for possessing a leopard skin and a large quantity of pangolin scales at the Kujamendi Beat House area under Daspalla Range in Nayagarh district.
According to the DFO Debarchan Behera, the leopard was poached in the Phulbani area, while the pangolin was killed in the Daspalla region. The accused were found in possession of the leopard hide along with 164 scales of pangolin.
Acting on credible intelligence, forest officials raided Kujamendi village and arrested Jyotsna Rani Mallick and her son Pradeep Mallick. Both have been produced before the court and remanded to judicial custody. The prime accused involved in the poaching is still at large, informed the DFO.
The Forest Department has launched searches in multiple locations and has assured that efforts are underway to apprehend the remaining fugitive.
