Leopard skin recovered in Srinagar

Ahmad Mukhtar:

Srinagar: Police recovered a skin of a fully grown leopard from the possession of Mohammad Shafi Nadaf son of Ghulam Nabi hailing from Baranpathar Haft Chinar Batamaloo during routine checking near Zadibal, Srinagar.

Police said the arrested person had clandestinely procured this leopard skin from some unknown poachers from Kupwara, intending to sell it to buyers outside the state. The identity of the poachers is being ascertained.

A case  under FIR No 08/2011 under section 8/22 NDPS Act and section 38 (2,3)39 (2),49 and section 51 of Jammu and Kashmir wildlife protection Amendment Act 2002 has been registered in Police Station Zadibal.

The Killing of leopard is banned under Jammu and Kashmir Wildlife Protection (Amendment) At. 2002. leopard skin is a valuable commodity and is sold at a very high rate in the National and International Markets. The common Leopard is enlisted in Schedule 1 of Jammu and Kashmir Wildlife Protection Act amended upto 2002 and schedule 1 of Indian Wildlife Protection Act 1972.

The leopard is also enlisted in the appendix 1 of CITES (convention of International Trade on Endangered Species). The leopard is categorized as Endangered in the Red Data Book of IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources).

The possession and trade in such animals is banned is an offence under the act. The expect opinion of the department of wildlife protection was also obtained for ascertaining the genuineness of the seized animal skin. Further raids are also expected in this connection.