Mayurbhanj, July 23: Baripada forest rangers and DD STR South has arrested three persons and seized four leopard hides and three mobile phones near Bahalda Village in Baripada Forest Division, officials said. The forest officials team headed by Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) acted on information passed to them from their sources and nabbed the alleged smugglers. Odisha: Four Leopard Skins Seized in Baripada, Three Arrested (See Pics).

The Forest team consists of staff from Baripada, Similipal South Similipal North and Rairangpur Forest Division. Further details are awaited. Earlier, three persons were arrested for allegedly smuggling a pangolin in the Kanker district of Chhattisgarh, forest officials said.

"Following a precise tip-off that smugglers are looking for a customer to sell a pangolin, a forest department team swung into action and launched an operation to nab the accused persons", said a forest officer. Odisha: STF Seizes Three Leopard Skins in Rayagada, One Held.

The officer further informed that acting on the input, the team intercepted three persons on a motorcycle and rescued the pangolin from them.

The rescued pangolin weighed around 11 kilograms and its health condition was also fine.

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