Man in possession of leopard’s tooth fined Rs. 20,000

A suspect who pleaded guilty to having in his possession a tooth of a leopard was fined Rs. 20,000 by Tissamaharama Actg. Magistrate Pemachandra Thalpawila. The suspect had been arrested and produced in court by wildlife officers of the Yala National Park.

The suspect was a resident of the Yodakandiya area. Wildlife Conservation Officers told court that the suspect was wearing the tiger tooth on a string around his neck. They stated that the leopard was an animal that was considered as being endangered with extinction and that it was illegal to kill such animals for their parts.