9 July 2010
 
New Delhi: Two more leopard skins seized today makes it a total five leopard skins seized this week in Uttarakhand. The Uttarakhand Forest Department seized two leopard skins this morning with the assistance of the Wildlife Protection Society of India (WPSI) at Nandaprayag, Chamoli district. Earlier, on 7th July, three leopard skins were seized at Vikasnagar, Dehradun.
 
In an early morning operation, the enforcement team led by Mr Sohan Lal, Assistant Conservator of Forests, Badrinath Division, and Range Officers Mr Virender Singh Bisht and Mr Meherban Singh Negi, have arrested six people all belonging to Chamoli district. Two more people are absconding in connection with this seizure. A case under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 has been registering against accused at Nandprayag Range of Badrinath forest division.
 
Leopards are listed in Schedule I of Wildlife Protection Act. Any crime involving this species is punishable with imprisonment for a term between three and seven years and also with a fine not less than ten thousand rupees.
 
The poaching of leopards occurs primarily for its body parts, skin and bones. The demand for leopard body parts exists mainly outside the country and is a major threat to this species. WPSI’s wildlife crime database reveals the poaching and seizure of the body parts of 157 leopards in 2008, 161 leopards in 2009 and 110 leopards till date this year.