Forest officials have arrested three men and seized an intact leopard skin during an anti-poaching operation near Gayatapara Road in Narayanpur district, raising concerns over the illegal trafficking of wildlife products in the region.
The seizure was made by a team from the Dhaudai Forest Range during a patrol. Officials reportedly noticed three men behaving suspiciously and stopped them for questioning. A subsequent search led to the recovery of a leopard skin that the trio was allegedly transporting on two motorcycles.
The accused have been identified as Sonuram Kachlam, 39, and Punit Kumar Baghel, 32, both from Chhotedongar, and Jamdhar Potai, 50, from Dhaudai. The recovered skin measured approximately 184 cm in total length, with its dimensions indicating that it belonged to an adult leopard.
Accused sent to judicial custody
The three men were produced before the Chief Judicial Magistrate in Narayanpur and subsequently remanded in judicial custody. Forest authorities have registered a case under relevant provisions of the Wildlife (Protection) Act.
Officials are now investigating where the leopard was killed, how the accused obtained the skin and where it was allegedly being taken. Investigators will also examine whether the seizure is connected to a larger wildlife-trafficking network involving other individuals.
Crackdown on wildlife trafficking
The seizure comes amid intensified anti-poaching efforts in Chhattisgarh. Forest officials said the operation was being conducted in accordance with anti-poaching directives issued by state Forest Minister Kedar Kashyap.
The recovery of an intact leopard skin underscores the continuing threat posed by illegal wildlife trade. Leopard skins and other body parts can enter illicit markets, making effective intelligence gathering, patrolling and coordination between enforcement agencies crucial to protecting India’s wild leopard populations.
The investigation into the Narayanpur seizure is continuing, with officials attempting to trace the origin of the skin and identify any wider network behind the suspected wildlife trafficking operation.
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