Wildlife officers conducted a sudden raid in the Wathurugama area, Gampaha, on October 16 following information received by the Department of Wildlife Conservation.
During the raid, officers inspected a house and discovered a replica made using leopard skin.
A woman present at the residence was arrested by the officials. She was produced before the Gampaha Magistrate’s Court the same day, along with the replica made with leopard skin.
The suspect was released on a cash bail of Rs. 500,000. The court ordered that the item be sent to the Department of National Museums for expert examination and scheduled the next hearing for January 16, 2026.
The Sri Lankan leopard (Panthera pardus kotiya), an endemic and critically endangered species, is strictly protected under the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance. Possession, sale, display, or transport of any part of this animal is a punishable offense.
The Department of Wildlife Conservation urges the public to report any information regarding such illegal possession via its 1992 hotline. (Newswire)
