Forest Department officials posing as customers busted a pangolin smuggling racket near Patamunda village in the Pallahara area of Angul district on Sunday. The officials also arrested four persons in this connection. “The accused were planning to sell the mammal weighing around 10 kg for Rs 2 lakh,” said a forest official.
The arrestees were identified as Santosh Mahakud, Kailash Nayak of Patamund village, Gananath Nayak of Tainsira village and Muna Munda of Jagmohanpur village.
Forest officials said that pangolin, a Schedule-I animal, is one of the most-trafficked animals in the world.
“The animal scale is used for ornamental purpose while the animal scale has also demand for medicinal purposes to treat cancer, stomach ailments, and blood-related problems. Indian Pangolin is the world’s most trafficked mammal for its medicinal values, scales and meat,” said an official.