KATHMANDU: Police arrested a person for the possession of red panda hide from a restaurant in Gongabu of Kathmandu Metropolitan City-26 on Thursday evening.

Police have identified the arrestee as Rup Bahadur Budha (32) of Rara Municipality-12 in Mugu district, currently residing in Chapagaun of Lalitpur district.

Acting on a special tip-off, a team deployed from Gongabu-based Metropolitan Police Sector raided Pandey Lumbini Bhojanalaya, arrested Budha and seized the rare species’ hide kept hidden inside the eatery.

Meanwhile, further investigation into the case is underway, police informed.

According to the National Park and Wildlife Conservation Act, 1973 – Red Panda also known as Ailurus fulgens is classified as highly endangered species in Nepal.