In a big move, joint anti-poaching teams of Odisha & Chhattisgarh Forest Department along with Wildlife Crime Control Bureau caught 6 suspects with four leopard hides and one suspected tiger hides among other animal pelts in two separate raids conducted on Friday. Responding to an intelligence report, Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (PCCF) cum Chief Wildlife Warden Rakesh Chaturvedi and PCCF Wildlife P V Narsingh Rao directed to constitute the teams comprising of officers from Udanti-Sitanadi Tiger Reserve anti-poaching team, Gariaband Forest Division, Wildlife Crime Control Bureau and Khariyar Forest Division-Odisha, North Kalahandi Forest Division and South Kalahandi Forest Division to swung into action.

 

The team raided several places and took six persons in custody along with seizure of four leopard hides, one tiger hide, one tooth, two nails and four motorcycles from the accused. The accused men were handed over to the respective range officer for judicial action. Entire operation was shrouded in secrecy and carried out with extreme precaution so as not to alert the poachers.