109 Leopard Skins seized
in Nepal
8th April, 2003
The Nepal Police
seized 109 leopard skins along with 14 unidentified
skins (which we believe could be otter skins) from a
bus in Swayambhu, Kathmandu, during a routine check.
The skins were packed in 11 sacks and the bus was bound
for Dhading. One person, Pasang Chimkel Lama, who was
carrying the parcels, was arrested. Lama told the authorities
that a Tibetan man had asked him to carry the sacks
to the Tibetan border via Dhading and Chhekemar, and
that he was paid Rs. 50,000 to carry the goods.
This seizure follows close on the heels
of a number of other large leopard skin seizures in
India. On 1 April, 14 leopard skins and a tiger skin
were seized in Dharchula (Pithoragarh District) on the
India-Nepal border, 20 leopard skins were seized in
Siliguri on 11 February, and 12 leopard skins were seized
in Lucknow on 5 January.
This makes a total of 155 leopard skins
seized in the past three months.
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