India, Oct. 2 -- The skin of a leopard destined for the illegal wildlife trade has led to the arrest of two members of an inter-state trafficking syndicate, with the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) recovering the protected animal's hide during an intelligence-led operation in Gondia district.

The DRI's Mumbai zonal unit intercepted the two accused near Purada village on Tuesday and recovered the leopard skin from their possession, officials said on Thursday. The seizure was made under the provisions of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.

Leopards (Panthera pardus) are accorded the highest level of protection under Schedule I of the Act, which prohibits the trade, sale, purchase, possession and transportation of their skins an...