Man who sold owl talons to shamans arrested in Jaipur

Acting on a tip-off, the forest department officials late on Wednesday night arrested a man for sale and purchase of animal parts. They recovered talons and organs belonging to a bird of prey and a reptile, that shockingly, the man confessed were being used in shaman rituals and were sought after by shamans.

Identified as Ashok Maheshwari, the man was selling the illegal items from his shop in the walled city area of Johari Bazaar. "We had received specific input that the man kept animal parts, specially organs of monitor lizards and talons of owls that he sold to shamans. Based on the info, a team was constituted to verify the information and take necessary action," said Sudarshan Sharma, DFO.

The team then approached Maheswari in disguise. "We posed as buyers and the man handed the entire consignment. He was immediately arrested. On Thursday, he was taken to court along with the confiscated animals parts and we obtained his judicial custody," the DFO said, adding, "We will interrogate him about the supply chain and also about those who bought these items from him. As of now, we are uncertain about the species of owl whose talons have been confiscated. The items are being sent to the Wildlife Institute of India for FSL evaluation."