Bhubaneswar: In a crackdown on illegal trade of wildlife body parts, the Wildlife wing of the Forest department in Odisha today seized five leopard skins and detained seven persons in this connection in Gajapati district.

This was revealed by Principal Chief Conservators of Forests (Wildlife) Susanta Nanda today.

The officials of the Wildlife wing also seized one fishing cat skin, one leopard cat skin and huge quantities of pangolin scales from the arrested persons.

In a major breakthrough,5 leopard skins,1fishing cat skin &1 leopard cat skin with huge quantities of pangolin scales have been seized.7 criminals taken to custody.
On the process to nab the kingpin & bust the inter state gang.
Kudos to all my staff who worked 24x7 to crack this. pic.twitter.com/D7m1hFVvLw

— Susanta Nanda (@susantananda3) April 7, 2024

The arrested persons are the members of an interstate gang involved in the illegal trade of wildlife body parts. The officials of the Wildlife wing will soon arrest the kingpin of the gang, said the PCCF (Wildlife).