Forest officials in Nuapada district apprehended a man carrying a leopard skin on the Cheliaguda Biju Expressway.
The accused, Hrishikesh Bagh from Sinapali, was intercepted on the night of August 25 while transporting the contraband on a scooty.
Acting on a tip-off, Khariar Divisional Forest Officer Aziz Khan confirmed that the leopard skin, measuring 180 cm in length, was seized and will undergo forensic analysis to determine the cause of the animal’s death. Preliminary estimates suggest the leopard was over a year old.
Bagh has been booked under the Wildlife Protection Act for killing and trading an endangered species. Authorities are continuing their investigation to uncover any larger network involved in the illegal wildlife trade.
This arrest underscores the Forest Department’s commitment to protecting endangered species and enforcing wildlife conservation laws across Odisha.
