Lucknow, July 26 : Wildlife authorities in Lucknow have seized four wild animal skins, including that of a tiger and two gazelles.

The skins were recovered from forests bordering the Manikpur-Chitrakoot belt on Friday, they said, adding that the smugglers planned to sell the skins in the international market.

Assistant Superintendent of Police Paresh Pandey said: "We seized skins of prohibited animals. After searching thoroughly and investigating into the matter, we found that there was another man who had nine skins. He ran away. We arrested Virender Singh Patel who possessed skins of two gazelles, one tiger, one deer, one cheetal 
(spotted deer), one cheetah''s head and another unidentified.”

Officials said that this operation has helped them to collect information about others involved in the wildlife trade.

Indian wildlife officials say that illegal trade is flourishing and providing criminal syndicates with millions of dollars.

Skins of leopards, rhinos, reptiles, birds and insects, besides rare species of trees and plants are mostly smuggled into Southeast Asian countries and China. (ANI)