Kathmandu, June 12 :

Jagadish Lodha, a kingpin of a major network of poachers and dealers operating in India and Nepal, was arrested on June 4 in Kathmandu, the Wildlife Conservation Nepal (WCN) said today.

Seven of his associates, who were caught with two tiger skins, four leopard skins and 40 kg of tiger bone in two separate incidents in April 2006, are behind bars.

“The capture of Lodha illustrates how vital it is for India and Nepal to exchange enforcement intelligence,” said Prasanna Yonzon, chief executive officer, WCN, adding: “Lodha, who hails from the Bawaria community in India, used to bring skin from India. His gang members are targeting our big cats.”

He is reported to have sold over 30 pieces of tiger skin to dealers in Nepal last year. He had sold seven pieces of tiger skin and 15 pieces of other skin to Tibetan traders in Kathmandu. His poacher father was held following the seizure of iron traps in a wildlife sanctuary in India in November last year.