Goalpara: Youths from Khutabari village in Goalpara district discovered an endangered pangolin on Thursday night and promptly alerted the state forest department. Officials from the Pancharatna Zonal Forest Department swiftly arrived and, with the help of local youths, rescued the pangolin.
It was later released into the Pancharatna Reserved Forest for safety.
The pangolin, weighing around three kilograms and measuring 1.5 meters, is commonly found in the Pancharatna Reserved Forest, according to forest officials. The department expressed gratitude to the villagers for their quick response and care for wildlife.
This incident follows the arrest of four poachers by the Assam Forest Department on 11 August in Daranggiri, Goalpara district. The poachers were caught with pangolin scales, a highly sought-after item in illegal wildlife trade. Despite their supposed medicinal value, scientific reports have debunked the effectiveness of pangolin scales in treating ailments. However, the illegal trade continues to threaten pangolin populations, with over a million poached in the past decade. Pangolin scales can fetch over ₹2.5 lakhs ($3000) per kilogram on the black market.
Also Read: Mizoram: Minister discusses state’s 2036 Olympic goals with SAI