Rangjuli: The Assam Forest Department arrested four poachers in a major crackdown at Daranggiri in Goalpara district on Sunday. The poachers were caught with pangolin scales, a rare and highly prized item in illegal wildlife trade.
According to forest officials, the department received a tip-off that poachers from neighboring Meghalaya would be bringing pangolin scales into the Goalpara area.
Acting on this information, a forest team from the Rangjuli Forest Office apprehended the suspects during a transaction at a roadside eatery in Daranggiri. The suspects were attempting to sell the pangolin scales for ₹20,000.
Dharmendra Das, the Ranger of Rangjuli Forest, confirmed that the scales weigh approximately one kilogram and have an estimated market value of ₹1.5 lakh.
The arrested individuals have been identified as Jindas Momin, Benarson Momin, Kilen Sangma, and Cabisto Momin, all residents under Kharkutta Police Station in Meghalaya.
The forest department has registered a case against them and has initiated further investigation into the matter.
Pangolin scales are in high demand in parts of Asia, where they are used in traditional medicine and as a delicacy. Despite their supposed medicinal properties, scientific reports indicate that the scales are ineffective in treating ailments.
Nonetheless, the illegal trade continues to threaten pangolin populations, with over a million pangolins poached from the wild over the past decade. In 2019, there was a record high in pangolin scale seizures, underscoring the alarming levels of trafficking between Africa and Asia. On the black market, pangolin scales can fetch over $3,000 per kilogram.
Also Read: Nagaland: NSF to host “The Naga Morung” event in Kohima on Aug 14