Kavre, January 3

Police in Kavre held two persons with pangolin scales yesterday.

Forty-year-old Prem Lama of Lakhanpur, Ramechhap; and Pemba Tamang, 23, of Majhipheda in Kavre, were arrested while carrying 3.5 kg scales of the endangered species from Chadanichowk, Banepa-6.

According to Kavre police chief SP Rajeshnath Bastola, they were held after police acted on a tip-off. He further informed that the duo will be handed over to the district forest office on today.

They will face charges as per the national park and wildlife protection act and each is liable to face up to 10 years of prison term or 75,000 rupees in fine or both upon conviction.

Six incidents of smuggling of pangolin body parts were reported in the last fiscal. Meanwhile, in view of the increasing cases of smuggling of pangolin body parts, a campaign to raise awareness among the public about protection of the rare species began recently.

As per the research of Nepal Rural Development and Environment Conservation Council, pangolin, the rare species, is found in most of the community forests adjoining the Mahabharat Range in the southern part of the district.