Guwahati: The sleuths of the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) along with Dhemaji Forest Division personnel arrested a person with four Otter skins at Jonai in Dhemaji District.
The name of the arrested individual is Tama Tasso belonging to East Siang District in Arunachal Pradesh.
The Assam Forest Department took to X and congratulated this achievement of the officials. It wrote, “Commendable job by Dhemaji Forest Division. One Tama Tasso of East Siang Dist, Arunachal Pradesh was arrested today along with 4 nos. of Otter skin during a joint operation with sleuths of Wildlife Crime Control Bureau at Jonai in Dhemaji dist.”
WWF India states that according to wildlife trade estimates, an otter skin in Tibet fetches 350 Chinese Yuan and can be sold to leather factories for 90-100 US dollars in Thailand.
Its other body parts are believed to possess therapeutic properties.
Otters constitute an integral part of any wetland conservation programme in India since they indicate the health and stability of the wetlands ecosystem.
In Northeast India, Otters are reportedly breeding in Kaziranga National Park.