Kathmandu, June 3: Eight alleged poachers involved in the smuggling of the skin of protected red pandas were arrested in Kathmandu and Makwanpur districts Monday.   The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of Nepal Police Monday arrested two alleged poachers who were preparing to sell banned skin of Red Pandas in the capital.   Smuggling or selling of animal hide of protected or endangered animals is banned across the country. 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. A special squad of CIB detained Man Bahadur Tamang, 26, of Yarsha VDC-9 of Rasuwa district Bijaya Lama Tamang, 25, of Urleni VDC-5 of Nuwakot district.   Superintendent of Police Ishwor Babu Karki said that acting up on a special tip off, the Tamang duo were arrested while they were searching customers for selling the hide. SP Karki said that during the arrest of Tamang duo, they have attacked some police personnel in retaliation.   Police seized two pieces of skin of red pandas.  The arrested smugglers would be later taken to District Forest Office, Kathmandu for further legal action after undergoing police detention at Metropolitan Police Range.   http://www.gorkhapatraonline.com/trn/nation/2184-red-panda-skin-smugglers-arrested.html