Tiger skin seized in Odisha, 4 held

At least four people were arrested from a hotel in Odisha after a skin of an adult tiger was found in their possession, officials said Monday.

The people were arrested from Baripada town in Myurbhanj district, 270 km form here, which is close to Similipal, a tiger reserve.

Local authorities laid a trap by sending some officials as decoy customers and nabbed the culprits when they were attempting to sell the 8.5-feet-long and three-feet- wide skin.

Forest Officer B.K. Panda said it could be the skin of a Royal Bengal tiger which was killed a year ago in Similipal.

Spread over 845.70 sq km, Similipal is home to tigers and elephants.