A suspect was arrested for allegedly attempting to sell antlers of protected wildlife species, the Department of Wildlife Conservation said.

The arrest was made following a raid carried out in the Kotte area on May 02 by officers attached to the Hikkaduwa National Park Headquarters and the Bellanwila-Attidiya Wildlife Office, based on intelligence provided by the Sri Lanka Air Force.

During the operation, officers seized antlers of deer and sambhur that had reportedly been prepared for sale at a price of Rs. 200,000.

The suspect and the seized items were produced before the Nugegoda Magistrate’s Court, where the Magistrate imposed a fine of Rs. 150,000 on the suspect. The Department of Wildlife Conservation noted that under the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance, possessing, transporting, displaying, or selling any part of a protected wild animal is illegal.

The Department also urged the public to report individuals in possession of such animal parts by contacting the 1992 wildlife emergency hotline.