DOLAKHA-Nepal  SEP 21 -2014 Police arrested two men with a hide of critically endangered red panda from Charikot in the district on Sunday and handed them over to the District Forest Office for investigation. A police team in civvies led by inspector Indra Bahadur Rana arrested Devraj Bohara of Pawati VDC-3 and Chandra Tamang of Kalinchok VDC-8, District Forest Officer Rabindra Maharjan said. He said police followed the duo from Kathmandu, where they were reportedly searching for customers to sale the hide. The police team arrested Devraj from Satdobato and Chandra was arrested on the basis of Devraj’s statement. Chandra owns a hotel in Kalinchok. Maharjan said they have initiated action against the arrestees and that they are investigating whether or not the hide is of red panda. One involved in poaching red panda or smuggling its body parts will get one to 10 years of imprisonment or be fined Rs 40,000 to Rs 75,000 or both. The number of red panda in Gaurishankar Conservation Area is estimated to be around 40. (Source : ekanitpupur.com)