In a major crackdown on wildlife trafficking, the Forest Department recovered a leopard skin valued at approximately Rs 5 lakh during a sting operation in Nabarangpur district of Odisha. Acting on intelligence inputs, officials trapped the accused near Nunupani village under the Kodinga forest range while an illegal transaction was underway.
Three individuals, including two sellers from the Jharigaon block and a buyer, were arrested and are being interrogated to uncover the source of the leopard skin and the larger poaching network involved. Forest officials have formed a special investigation team to trace the supply chain, as similar cases of illegal wildlife trade have been reported from the region in the past. Further investigation is ongoing.