Mancherial district forest officials on Thursday seized an animal skin suspected to be that of a tiger from Mandamarri town and took one person into custody. The skin is being sent to forensic laboratory, Hyderabad, to ascertain whether it belongs to a tiger or some other animal.
The forest officials acted upon a tip off given by an NGO from Chandrapur in Maharashtra following which they launched a joint operation successfully. Officials said even if the skin turns out to be fake, a case will be booked against the accused as selling fake skin too is a crime.
The person taken into custody is Ailaveni Lingaiah, reported to be a resident of Mandamarri town. He was still being interrogated by officials when reports last came in.
Meanwhile, it is being suspected that the skin belongs to the male tiger which was caught in camera trap in the forest of Gangapur in Kawal Tiger Reserve in December last year. However, the identity would be revealed only after the Forest Department completes its preliminary inquiry.
According to sources, the tiger was killed in Bheemaram forest area in Chennur. It was electrocuted after coming into contact with live wire snare set up by alleged poachers, two of whom are absconding.
It may be recalled that Adilabad forest officials had seized a tiger skin in Ichoda in the first week of this month. The big cat was poached in Pembi forest range of Kawal Tiger Reserve sometime between Dasar and Deepawali festivals last year.
