BHUBANESWAR: The Odisha forest department officials have reportedly arrested a 31-year-old YouTuber in Karanjula village of Sambalpur district for illegally possessing 6 snakes, including cobras and 6 chameleons, an official said on Wednesday.

Ramchandra Rana, a resident of the western Odisha district's Redakhole, was named as the suspect. To draw viewers, he used to construct videos featuring snakes, chameleons, and other reptiles and wild creatures. On his YouTube account, Ramchandra Rana, he has more than one lakh subscribers.

In a statement to the media, Rana admitted to the crime and claimed that during this rainy season, he had caught these species in several locations. Rana asserted that before to creating a few videos for his YouTube channel, he would release such creatures. He denied being a part of the illegal wild animal trafficking, nevertheless. The forest officials apprehended the kid and saved the snakes and chameleons after receiving information.

"The youth, who has more than 1 lakh subscribers on his YouTube channel, has been captured. He led us to his home when we inquired, where we were able to save six snakes, including three cobras and four chameleons "said Manu Ashok Bhat, Sadar Range, Jujumara Assistant Conservator of Forest (ACF).

He added that further inquiry was ongoing to see whether the young person was participating in a wildlife trading racket because both species were listed as Schedule-II under the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972.

The channel violates the IT Act 2000. Therefore, the forest department officials asked YouTube for deletion and appropriate action at their end, sources said.

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