The L.B. Nagar special operations team on Monday arrested five persons and rescued from their possession a live pangolin, which was allegedly poached and being trafficked.
All the accused persons were booked under IPC and the relevant provisions under the Wildlife Protection Act (WPA) for poaching the endangered species.
According to the police, the scaly-skinned mammal was poached from the Allipur forest area surrounding Shivampet mandal in Medak district. Eslavath Roop Singh, a local resident, who allegedly poached it, had shared the pictures and videos of the live animal via WhatsApp with Ramavath Ramesh of Mahabubnagar.
With the help of three others, Nunavath Murali, Neerati Sampath and Malavath Srinu, the two were looking for potential buyers. They were nabbed near Thukkuguda crossroads in Pahadishareef police limits. The rescued animal was handed over to the forest officials of Mankhal range.
