Correspondent
SHILLONG, AUG 4: Wildlife officials have arrested four wildlife smugglers and seized four elephant tusks and two polythene bags containing pangolin scales from their possession in Meghalaya’s Ri-Bhoi district, wildlife officials said on Tuesday.
Acting on specific intelligence inputs from Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) regarding suspected illegal wildlife trade along the Nongpoh–Umden Road, the wildlife enforcement team intercepted two suspects matching the intelligence inputs at Umwang road.
“Four elephant tusks, suspected to be of Asiatic Elephant (Elephas maximus), were recovered from the possession of Tras Khymdeit and Wilshon Khymdeit, both residents of Ri-Bhoi district,” the wildlife official said.
In another intelligence-based operation conducted on Sunday at Shakhoikuna village in Ri-Bhoi district, the Nongpoh Wildlife Range intercepted three suspected individuals and seized two bags of suspected pangolin scales from their possession.
However, one of the accused managed to escape from the scene, the official said, adding that one of the arrested accused was identified as Benedick Khymdeit of Ri Bhoi district, and Rupai Ingti of Assam’s Kamrup district.
Wildlife official have seized wildlife articles and the arrested persons have been booked under the provisions of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.
A separate case has been registered at the Nongpoh Wildlife Range, and further investigation is in progress.
Elephants and pangolins are among India’s most protected wildlife species under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.
Illegal trade in wildlife and wildlife derivatives poses aserious threat to the country’s biodiversity and natural heritage, the official said, noting that the Meghalaya Forest department remains committed to combating wildlife crime. The department also appeals to members of the public to report any information relating to illegal hunting, possession, transportation, or trade in wildlifeand wildlife articles to the nearest Forest office.