Valley
Two held with pangolin scales
The Metropolitan Police Crime Division (MPCD) Teku arrested two traders in possession of pangolin scales from Bouddha-6 on Monday. Pangolin is locally known as ‘Salak’.The Metropolitan Police Crime Division (MPCD) Teku arrested two traders in possession of pangolin scales from Bouddha-6 on Monday. Pangolin is locally known as ‘Salak’.
Acting on a tip-off, a police team arrested Tirtha Shrestha, 28, and Ashok Shrestha, 23, both the natives of Bhuji Village in Ramechhap, and confiscated two kg of pangolin scales. The Shrestha duo was living in Bouddha.
The two have been sent to Kathmandu District Forest Office for further investigation.
Nepal is home to two endangered pangolin species—Chinese pangolin (Manis pentadactyla) and Indian pangolin (Manis crassicaudata). The illegal trade of pangolin for Chinese medicine have increased eight-fold in Nepal in the last five years. Pangolin is a protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.