Baragarh: A joint team of the Special Task Force (STF) and Baragarh Forest Officials have rescued a live pangolin and arrested one wildlife poacher on Tuesday in the Baragarh district.
The accused has been identified as Jagat Thela of Negipalli village under Bheden police limits in Baragarh.
Based on a piece of reliable information regarding the deal of live pangolin, the joint team conducted a raid on the roadside near Khansumen Devi temple in Negipalli village while the deal was underway.
The team of forest officials arrested the wildlife criminal from the spot. The live pangolin and other incriminating articles were recovered from his possession.
The accused could not produce any authority in support of the possession of live pangolin, for which he has been detained and handed over to Baragarh Forest Officials for legal action at their end.
The live pangolin was also handed over to DFO, Baragarh for safe custody, added reports.
Since 2020, Special drive against the wildlife criminals/ poachers have been launched. STF has seized as many as 22 numbers of leopard skins, 12 numbers of elephant tasks, 7 numbers of deer skins, 9 numbers of live pangolin and 15 kg pangolin scales with arrest of as many as 52 numbers of wildlife criminals.
Ms Kalinga