Foresters arrested two Darjeeling residents and seized a pangolin from their possession near Jalpai More here on Thursday night.

A team of Baikunthapur forest division led by Sanjay Dutta nabbed Nandu Mukhia and Amrit Pradhan, both residents of Darjeeling, with the animal when they were interacting with a third person.

“The duo were carrying the pangolin in a gunny bag. The third person fled the spot. They had plans to smuggle the pangolin to Nepal. The duo have been booked under Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972,” said Dutta, the range officer of Belakoba forest range.

Pangolin is a critically endangered animal. “Both its meat and the scales are used in traditional Chinese medicines which is why the animal has a huge demand in the grey market,” said a forester.

The foresters are trying to find out from where the duo got the animal.