REPUBLICA KATHMANDU, April 9 : In two separate operations, police have arrested nine persons for smuggling of the skin of protected red panda and statues made of elephant ivory. The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of Nepal Police nabbed four people, who were preparing to sell red panda skin from Soaltee Mode area on Monday, and five people in connection with their alleged involvement in the trading of elephant ivory statues of Lord Krishna and Goddess Laxmi on Tuesday, according to the police . Those arrested in possession of red panda skin are Rahul Tamang, 23, Madhusudan Lama, 21, of Okhaldhuga, Pemba Dorje Lama, 25, of Solukhumbhu and Kumar Karki, 38, of Ramechap. The selling of animal hide of protected or endangered animals is banned in Nepal. The red panda is also enlisted as endangered species under the protocol 1975 of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). Nepal has put the animal under the protected list as per the National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act-1973, according to CIB. Police on Wednesday handed them over to the District Forest Office, Kathmandu for further action. Meanwhile, five arrested in connection with their alleged involvement in the trading of ivory statues have been identified as Gopal Khatiwada, 34, Jitendra Bhaile,44, Rajendra Jhangju,23, Suraj Maharjan, 19, and Rajan Sitikhu, 29, from Bhaktapur-based Khawb Restaurant on Tuesday. They have been handed over to the District Forest Office, Bhaktapur for further action, according (Source : Myrepublica)