13th July 2005

A tiger skin and a few tiger claws were seized by the Kerala Forest Department in Periyar Tiger Reserve on 9 July 2005. The skin appears to be of a full grown tiger.

The Range Officer (RO) of Thekkady seized the skin and claws and arrested two men. Two others managed to escape. Both the accused are residents of Goodaloor, in the neighbouring state of Tamil Nadu, just across the state border from Periyar Tiger Reserve.

The very next day, Mr. Prem Kumar, RO of Devi Kulam Range, Munnar, seized one leopard skin and arrested two men. Interestingly, the skin was wrapped up in a package and hidden in the branches of a tree near the accused's house. Three other men wanted in the case are absconding.