BAHRAICH: Two unclaimed leopard skins costing Rs 64 lakhs in international market have been found in UP State Road Transport Corporation (UPSTC) bus at Rupaidiha town located on UP-Nepal border.
The bus conductor handed over the suitcases containing leopard skins to the area regional manager who then handed over it to the police. It is feared that these leopards have been killed in the forest of Katarniaghat Wild Life Sanctuary area. These skins have either been smuggled from Nepal or of Indian forest area is yet to be ascertained.
The police has registered the case against unidentified persons under Wild Life Protection Act and handed over the investigations to Rupaidiha police.
It is noted that a sum of Rs 16 lakhs is spent on the protection of each tiger and leopard but they are not being saved from the clutches of poachers. The police is recovering four to five skins of tiger and leopard every year from, which it is evident that poaching is still being continued.
