Poaching racket busted in Nepal, Indian arrested

Indian wildlife trader, Jagdish Lodha, believed to be the kingpin of a major international network of poachers and dealers, was arrested in Nepal on Sunday. Lodha’s gang was involved in trade of tiger, leopard and otter skins.

Indian wildlife trader, Jagdish Lodha, believed to be the kingpin of a major international network of poachers and dealers, was arrested in Nepal on Sunday. Lodha’s gang was involved in trade of tiger, leopard and otter skins.

He was held under citizen’s arrest by Wildlife Conservation Nepal (WCN) and handed over to Kathmandu Police. Authorities at Chitwan National Park had issued a warrant for his arrest.

‘‘The arrest of Lodha shows how vital it is for India and Nepal to exchange enforcement intelligence. In this case, we had vital information from the Wildlife Protection Society of India about Lodha,’’ said Prasanna Yonzon, CEO of WCN.

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Seven of Lodha’s associates were caught with two tiger skins, four leopard skins and 40 kg of tiger bone in two separate incidents in April 2006 and are behind bars. Anti-traffic Acts are stronger in Nepal than India and if convicted, Lodha and his men may have to serve a 15-year jail term.

In the last decade, Lodha has sold dozens of tiger skins to dealers in Nepal. His father is also involved in poaching and was arrested last year.

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