Thane (Maharashtra): Pangolin scales worth over ₹40 lakh in the illicit wildlife market were seized from three persons on Saturday in Thane's Mumbra area.
Pangolins, or scaly ant-eaters, are hunted for their scales due to a misconception that they cure a wide variety of diseases.
In India, this species is completely protected and its hunting prohibited, as it is included in Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act 1972.
"Accused Vikram Jadhav, Balkrishna Jogle and Anil Ghadge have told us they procured the pangolin scales, worth ₹40 lakh, from Guhagar in Ratnagiri. We are probing the network," said Inspector Madhukar Kad of Mumbra police station.
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