Forest officials from Belakoba in Jalpaiguri district of West Bengal, India, on May 4 night arrested two Bhutanese men for allegedly possessing and trying to smuggle a leopard skin.

Although forest officials across the border could not be contacted, Kuensel learned from sources that the men were caught from Hasimara.

Bhutanese officials confirmed that one of them is a lay monk and the other, a tourist bus driver in Thimphu. It was alleged that the two were taking the animal skin to Kalimpong to sell it.

It has been learnt that the men were caught following an input from the traps set by the anti-poaching squad. The men had hidden the eight feet long dry skin of an adult leopard under the mat in a private car.

Both men are alleged to have travelled from Trashiyangtse.

Staff reporter