on Jul 7 ,Uttarakhand forest officials have arrested three persons following the seizure of three leopard skins and bones allegedly from their possession in Dehradun. The accused have been identified as Ajab Singh, Jagat Singh and Mohan Singh, all residents of Vikas Nagar area in the state's capital. "They were arrested yesterday night by the anti-poaching cell of the forest department. Bullet holes were found on the skins and it is believed that the animals were killed in the nearby forest areas of Vikasnagar and Kalsi. "One poacher, Gangu Singh who allegedly shot the animals is currently absconding," according to a statement by Wildlife Protection Society of India (WPSI) which assisted the state forest officials in seizing the skins. A case under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, has been registered against the accused in Kalsi forest division. If convicted, the accused will face imprisonment for a term between three and seven years with a fine not less than ten thousand rupees. Poaching of leopards for their body parts has taken a toll on the animal's population as out of the total of 202 leopard deaths reported this year, fifty four per cent involved either seizure of its body parts or death due to poaching. 65 leopard deaths, under different circumstances, have been reported this year from Uttarakhand alone, the WPSI statement said.
source - ibnlive.com
edited by - Jim"s jungle retreat
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