Poacher arrested in Odisha

The python was handed over to the forest department on Tuesday.The rescued python was later released in the Similipal National Park, the DFO said.

Forest personnel Tuesday arrested a suspected poacher in Mayurbhanj district, an official said. Two guns, bows and arrows and animal traps were seized from his possession, the official said.

The forest officials raided a house at Kendujhuri village in connection with the seizure of leopard hide on Monday, Santosh Joshi, the Divisional Forest Officer, Baripada, said. On Monday, the forest department officials had seized a leopard hide from a hotel in Baripada town. The leopard had been killed inside Similipal National Park, a police officer had said.

Two persons, including an engineering student, were arrested on Monday.

The three arrested persons, including the poacher, were produced before the SDJM court on Tuesday and forwarded to jail custody DFO said.

Meanwhile, a python weighing about 40 kilogram was rescued by snake catchers from a canal of Haldia dam near Dumurdiha village under Kuliana block on Monday night. The python was handed over to the forest department on Tuesday.

The rescued python was later released in the Similipal National Park, the DFO said.