Bhubaneswar, Feb. 19: The wildlife staff under Baripada division have arrested two persons and seized a leopard skin from their possession.

The accused persons were intercepted near Udla College Square. They were on a scooter with the leopard hide.

The duo have been identified as Sibaprasanna Murmu, 32, of Prafullachandrapur village in Udla police station limits and Siddha Murmu, 30, of Atanati village in Kaptipada police station limits.

The seized hide measures 175 cm long and 50 cm wide. The leopard was about eight years old. Udla forest range officer Ajay Das said the department personnel posed as buyers and called the accused to Udla College Square for the deal. When they arrived with the animal skin they were arrested, Das said.

"The leopard was probably killed two months ago. The accused persons are traders. They have been produced before court today," Das added.

Last year, there were four such cases and this is the first case of poaching this year. From 2012 to 2016, there were 22 seizures of leopard skins.

On March 17 last year, the wildlife staff under Rairangpur division arrested five poachers and seized a leopard skin and ivory from them.

"More stringent action should be taken against the poachers. The crime branch should investigate whether these incidents have links with crime syndicates," said Bhanumitra Acharya, wildlife expert.