Hyderabad:Amrabad tiger reserve officials seized an Indian pangolin at the Hajipur crossroads and arrested five persons for the illegal possession of the animal.
Investigation revealed that five persons captured the pangolin in Chukkalagundem of Maddimadugu in the tiger reserve on November 5. One of the five, Gajji Balaraju reached out to one Swathi alias Vadde Lakshmi of Sangareddy and others to sell the pangolin.
On receiving reliable intelligence, forest officials apprehended the accused and seized the pangolin on Sunday. The other accused were identified as Seelam Buddaiah (Pilligundlu), Chigurla Anjaiah (Udimilla), P. Sai Kumar (Nadimpally) and Mandli Veeraiah (Chitlankunta).
Officials said the same group was involved in a similar pangolin trade case recently reported in Rangareddy district. Authorities are now conducting a detailed investigation to identify all individuals involved in the illegal trade network.
The seized pangolin, originally found in the Shukkala Gundam forest, is in the custody of the forest department. Officials will seek judicial approval to release it back into the wild.
