KATHMANDU: Police said they arrested a man in possession of a red panda hide from Bhatbhateni of Kathmandu on Saturday.

Ram Bahadur Syangtan (48), a permanent resident of Hetaunda Sub-Metropolitan City-2 of Makawanpur district, was arrested by a team deployed from the Central Investigation Bureau yesterday.

Red panda is an endangered animal whereas trade and smuggling of its body parts is illegal as per the National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act, 1973, as well as the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES Convention, 1975).

If convicted, Syangtan would be sentenced to jail from a year to 10 years or a fine of Rs 40,000 to Rs 75,000 or both.

The suspect has been sent to the Kathmandu District Forests Office for further investigation and action.