Six persons arrested with anteater

The seized pangolin, a highly endangered species, was expected to fetch as much as Rs.4 crore in the illegal wildlife market.

A pangolin (scaly anteater) which was seized by forest officers from six people at Sreekaryam on Tuesday. Photo: S. Mahinsha

Forest officers on Tuesday arrested six persons from Sreekaryam on charges of possessing an Indian pangolin (scaly anteater), a highly endangered species included in Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act.

In an operation based on a tip-off received by the Intelligence wing, the officers thwarted an attempt to sell the animal which weighed around 10.4 kg. A vehicle that was used to smuggle the pangolin was also seized.

The persons arrested were identified as Abdul Ghaffar (47) of Kilimanoor, Anikuttan (49) of Sreekaryam, Babu (40) of Kadakkal, Rijo (24), Ramachandran Kutty (38) and Ramanan (38) of Aryankavu. An officer said the animal was obtained by Ramanan, a temporary forest watcher attached to the Aryankavu forest range. The animal was expected to fetch as much as Rs.4 crore in the illegal wildlife market.

For use as an aphrodisiac

“Misconceptions continued to be rife regarding such endangered animals. It is believed by many that the keratinous scales of pangolins have iridium content and could also be used to make traditional medicines, including aphrodisiacs. They are also considered by certain sections to be good luck charms,” the officer said.

The team which conducted the operation included Intelligence wing Assistant Conservator of Forests B. Santhosh Kumar, flying squad Divisional Forest Officer J.R. Ani, Palode Range Officer S.V. Vinod, Paruthipally Range Officer Divya S.S. Rose, Control Room Range Officer P.V. Jayakumar and Chullimanoor Range Officer Balakrishnan Nair.

The case came under the jurisdiction of the Aryankavu forest range. The accused will be produced before the Judicial First Class Magistrate Court – II (Forest Offences) at Punalur on Wednesday.