India: The Wildlife Management authorities on Wednesday arrested Bavirisetty Pavan Kumar while he was allegedly attempting to sell leopard skin at Jangareddygudem bus terminus in West Godavari district.

A team of forest officials led by Kaikaluru Range Assistant Conservator of Forest (Wildlife) N. Ramachandra Rao on Wednesday nabbed Mr. Kumar for possessing the leopard skin and offering to sell it. Mr. Kumar belongs to Doramanidi village of Buttayagudem mandal in West Godavari district.

Mr. Kumar had reportedly advertised online, offering to sell the leopard skin. Traffic India, an NGO, noticed the advertisement and alerted the wildlife management authorities about the sale of the leopard skin.

The wildlife authorities trapped Kumar by expressing their interest to purchase it and asked him to meet at the bus terminus in Eluru to fix their deal.

“We have recovered the leopard skin and have taken Kumar into custody. Three cases under the Section 9, 40 (clause-2) and 49 (clause-b) of the Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972 have been registered against him, ” Mr. Rao said.

Leopard belongs to Schedule- 1 species under the Wildlife (protection) Act, 1972, and hunting and possession of its parts and skin attracts sentence of maximum of seven years of imprisonment. The wildlife authorities are investigating the case to nab the people who involved in hunting the leopard.

“We have no clue whereabouts of the leopard and investigation is on,” Mr. Rao said.

(Source: The Hindu)