By Our Correspondent
BHUBANESWAR: The Odisha Police Crime Branch’s STF has continued to give sleepless nights to wildlife criminals in the State.
Since 2020, STF has seized as many as 28 Nos. of leopard skin, 24 Nos. of elephant task, 7 Nos. of deer skins, 14 Nos. of live pangolin, 30 kg 400 gm of pangolin scales, 2 Nos. of leopard teeth, 29 Nos. of leopard claws, 46 Nos. of live wild parrot with arrest of 69 Nos. of wildlife criminals.
Since 2020, STF recovered 14 Nos. of live pangolin, 30 kg 400 gm of pangolin scales. The Indian pangolin (Manis crassicaudata), also called thick-tailed pangolin, scaly anteater and bajrakapta ‘ବଜ୍ରକାପ୍ତା’ in Odia is a solitary, shy, slow-moving, nocturnal mammal.
It is a schedule-I protected animal under Wild Life Protection act, 1972. Schedule I provides absolute protection – offences under these are prescribed for the highest penalties.Special drive against the wildlife criminals/poachers is continuing.
