Continuing the fight against wildlife crimes, Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) conducted an operation on 16.06.2025 and foiled the trafficking of leopard parts. Acting on credible intelligence, the two suspect persons were intercepted on a highway near Titajuri Village on the outskirts of Nagaon, Assam and two leopard skins and 20 bones of leopard (weighing 2.58 kgs) were recovered from their possession. In the melee and taking advantage of the crowd, one of the suspects managed to escape and flee to the nearby forest area. The seized leopard skins and bones and the apprehended person were handed over to Kathiatoli Forest Range for further necessary action. Leopard (Panthera pardus) is listed in Schedule-I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 providing the highest level of protection for endangered species. Hunting of leopard and possession and trading of its parts are illegal. Leopard is also listed in Appendix-I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES), thereby, banning commercial trade of its parts.

The battle against the poaching, hunting, smuggling, trafficking and illegal trade of protected species of animals and plants is an ongoing effort of the law enforcement agencies. Besides the present seizure, since January 2025, DRI and Customs in the North Eastern Region have also seized one tiger skin and tiger bones weighing 14 kilograms, two elephant tusks, 3 kilograms of ambergis (vomit of sperm whale), four leopard skins, two otter skins, one skin of bear head, 2 kilograms of pangolin scales and 8 kilograms of leopard bones. These animals are protected under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 making their hunting prohibited and trading and possession of their parts also prohibited. 

PG/SM

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