Leopard skin seized in Odisha; 1 held

Baripada: A man was arrested with a leopard skin from the foothills of the Similipal forests in Mayurbhanj district.

 The 6.4 feet long and 2.1 feet wide skin was seized while it was being taken on a bicycle by the accused at Rangamatia under Pithabata range of Baripada forest division yesterday, Divisional forest officer (DFO), Sanjay Kumar Swain said.

 On a tip off, forest personnel in the guise of traders detained one Anant Hansda and offered to purchase the animal product. After the deal was finalised, Hansda displayed the skin and was arrested.

 Swain said an about eight-year-old leopard was believed to have been killed for the skin in Similipal forest, but there was no mark of arrow or gun shot on it.

 Interrogation was on to ascertain whether Hansda had any link with poachers or inter-state traders on animal products.