GUWAHATI, Jan 14: In a significant operation against wildlife smuggling, officials from the Anti-Smuggling Wing of the Guwahati Customs Division and Dhemaji Forest Range recovered the skin and skeletal remains of a Royal Bengal Tiger from the Sisimukh area in Assam’s Dhemaji district.
One suspect, identified as Palash Pegu, was arrested and placed in judicial custody, while two others remain at large.
Authorities also seized two motorcycles bearing registration numbers AS-22-H-8546 and AS-04-A-07446 during the operation.
“The suspects were travelling on two bikes when they were intercepted and found to be carrying a white gunny bag containing the skin of a male baby Royal Bengal tiger,” said Khirud Saikia, Range Officer of Dhemaji Forest Range.
The skin was estimated to be around 5 ft 10 in long, and the skeletal remains included the skull, jaws, and canine teeth, weighing a total of 2,341 grams. The suspects had killed the tiger in Karbi Anglong over a year ago and were attempting to smuggle the skin to Myanmar.
“The skin and skeletal remains were seized near Sissikalghar on January 10, as the accused attempted to sell the items for ₹11 lakh to a buyer. Efforts are ongoing to track down the absconding suspects,” Saikia said.
The recovered tiger skin has been sent for forensic testing, and images have been shared with the All India Tiger Estimation team at the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) to determine the origin of the tiger. “The source of the tiger skin will be confirmed upon receiving their report,” Saikia added.
