BHUBANESWAR: Recently shocking news has come to light here a team of Forest Division and Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) Central Region seized 14.2 kg pangolin scales from Damodarnali area of Kapilash range in Dhenkanal district and detained two persons. DFO Prakash Chand Gogineni told that the scales were seized on the basis of the intelligence input from the WCCB. This is one of the biggest seizures of pangolin scales in the Dhenkanal division so far. He said accused Ratnakar Rout (51) and Firoj Khan (52), both from the Dhenkanal town, had collected the pangolin scales at a godown in Banasinga area of Sarangi range in the division.

"Performing on the intelligence input, a joint team of Dhenkanal Forest Division and WCCB Central Region, Jabalpur pretending as customers thumped a deal with the smugglers and arrested them with the scales at Damodarnali area of Kapilash range on Saturday night. The amount of scales obtained from the two accused gives a shred of clear evidence that at least six to seven pangolins have been illegally killed", Gogineni said. He said from the preliminary investigation it has come to light that the duo was collecting scales from poachers within Dhenkanal and nearby areas. They, however, had not been able to sell it due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The joint team has seized a two-wheeler and two mobile phones.“We are examining their contact details to find out others involved in this illegal trade and operation,” the DFO said. After the Covid test, the duo will be presented in Court where the Dhenkanal division will seek their remand for further investigation.

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