CBI's Wildlife Crime Unit Arrested Four with Leopard Parts

The CBI's specialized Wildlife Crime Unit has uncovered a significant trafficking operation in Haryana. The operation, conducted on February 3, 2025, led to the arrest of four individuals and the recovery of numerous protected wildlife products, revealing the continuous threat to India's endangered species.

The Investigation

Acting on the information that indicated active wildlife trafficking in the region, a joint team of the CBI's Wildlife Crime Unit and the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau intercepted a vehicle in Pinjore, Haryana. Three suspects - Pirdas, Wazira, and Ramdayal - were immediately acaptured, while the fourth suspect, Rohtas, was later arrested at Kalka Railway Station while he was most probably trying to escape.

The search of the vehicle yielded a substantial collection of protected wildlife products:

• Two leopard pelts  
• Nine leopard teeth
• Twenty-five leopard claws
• Three pieces of leopard jaw
• Three otter pelts
• Multiple pangolin scales 

The Legal Framework

This case falls under India's stringent wildlife protection laws, where leopards and other seized species are classified under Schedule-I of the Wildlife Protection Act. The severity of these protections reflects the critical status of these species, with violations carrying penalties and imprisonment. The investigation revealed that one of the suspects had previously been charged in Nepal for similar wildlife crimes, indicating the international nature of such trafficking networks.

This case highlights several critical aspects of wildlife crime in India like the persistence of organized wildlife trafficking networks, the international connections in wildlife crime, the continued market demand for protected species products  and the effectiveness of inter-agency cooperation in wildlife protection.