Shillong: A wildlife smuggler was apprehended by wildlife officials in the Moran area of Dibrugarh district, Assam, after a high-speed chase.
The individual was found to be in possession of the skin and bones of a leopard, a protected species under Indian wildlife law.
Acting on credible intelligence about an ongoing wildlife trafficking operation, officials from the wildlife headquarters in Shillong swiftly responded.
On February 14, a team of wildlife officers set up a checkpoint in Moran, a town located in Assam’s Dibrugarh district, to intercept potential smugglers.
The following day, the officers spotted a suspect traveling on a two-wheeler.
The man was carrying two large bags, and upon noticing the authorities, he attempted to escape by driving into an open field.
However, the officers pursued him, eventually cornering and arresting the smuggler.
During the chase, the suspect abandoned both his bags and the two-wheeler. Upon inspection, officials discovered the skin of a leopard (Panthera pardus) in one of the bags, while the second bag contained the bones of the same animal.
Leopards, listed under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972, are afforded the highest level of protection in India due to their vulnerable conservation status.
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The act prohibits the hunting, trade, or possession of any part of this species, making the seizure of the leopard’s skin and bones a significant development in curbing illegal wildlife trafficking.
The arrested smuggler, whose identity has not been disclosed, has been handed over to the relevant authorities, and further investigations are underway.
The confiscated leopard body parts have been taken into custody for further examination.
Wildlife conservation officials have continued to stress the importance of tackling wildlife trade to protect endangered species, with this arrest serving as a timely reminder of the ongoing threat posed by poachers and smugglers.
