Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, June 13 2009:
Wildlife produces including antlers, scales and skins seized by Assam Rifles from smugglers enroute to Myanmar were set on fire under the aegis of Forest Department at Iroishemba Zoological Garden today.
Wildlife items seized by Assam Rifles during 2007 to 2009 included 180 kgs of deer antlers, 20 kg of Goral (Shabeng) antlers, four number of porcupine nails, four nails of wild buffaloes and 123.40 kgs of pangolin scales.
In connection with these seizures, Forest Department registered four different cases against which Rs 60,000 were collected as fine, said Deputy Conservator of Forest (Park and Sanctuary) L Muhindro.
He also hailed the efforts of Assam Rifles towards checking smuggling of wildlife produces.
Saying that trading in wildlife produces like antlers, scales and skin are illegal, the Deputy Conservator of Forest appealed to all the citizens to abstain from smuggling such produces.