The Forest Department has intensified its crackdown on wildlife poaching and illegal trafficking in Odisha’s Kandhamal district, arresting three more individuals in connection with a leopard skin smuggling case.
Authorities also seized leopard claws, teeth, deer skulls with antlers, and other wildlife body parts during the operation.
According to forest officials, the arrests were made as part of an ongoing investigation under Case No. 43 of 2026-27. The case was initially registered following the illegal trade of two leopard skins detected by the Baliguda Forest Range.
The newly arrested accused have been identified as Amitabh Pradhan and Tofan Pradhan of Jabedi village under Tikabali police limits, along with Digambar Kahar alias Dimba of Rajikakhol village. Investigators allege that the two Pradhans supplied the leopard skins to the prime accused, Uttam Majhi.
Forest officials stated that Digambar Kahar was involved in poaching leopards in nearby forest areas using country-made firearms. During a raid at his premises, officials recovered four leopard claws, four leopard teeth, two deer skulls with antlers, and several other wildlife body parts.
The seizures have raised fresh concerns over illegal hunting activities and the trafficking of protected wildlife species in the region. Authorities are now focusing on identifying other individuals linked to the network and tracing the destination of the seized wildlife articles.
The operation was conducted by Baliguda Range Officer D. Subas Chandra, Forester Prabhat Kumar Dora, Forest Guards Satyanarayan Mohanty and Bijayananda Sethi, and Tikabali Forester Muktanjali Behera. The raid was carried out under the direct supervision of Assistant Conservator of Forests and Investigating Officer Arun Kumar Sahu.
Baliguda DFO and Wildlife Warden Ghanshyam Mohanta said strict action against wildlife traffickers would continue. The Forest Department has also urged the public to report any suspicious hunting activities or illegal wildlife trade to the nearest forest office.
