Forest personnel in Odisha’s Balasore district arrested six poachers, including a government school teacher, during a major crackdown on wildlife trafficking in Kuldiha Wildlife Sanctuary.
Authorities seized 13 pangolin scales, eight mobile phones, and three motorcycles from the accused, who have already been produced in court.
According to the Forest Department, the arrests followed ongoing investigations into an earlier poaching case. On January 22, Kuldiha Range Officer Subrat Behera led a raid that busted a poaching gang. Continued surveillance and repeated raids eventually led to the latest arrests, strengthening the fight against illegal wildlife trade in the region.
Officials confirmed that with these six arrests, a total of 11 individuals have been apprehended and forwarded to court within the last two weeks in connection with the same trafficking racket. The inclusion of a government assistant teacher among the accused highlights the disturbing involvement of individuals from diverse professions in wildlife crimes.
Forest authorities emphasised that further investigation into the network is underway. They reiterated their commitment to intensifying anti-poaching operations in Kuldiha Wildlife Sanctuary to curb illegal hunting and trafficking. The crackdown underscores Odisha’s determination to protect endangered species and dismantle organised wildlife crime networks.
