Koraput, Oct 13: A rare pangolin was rescued near the Manikeswari Durga Puja Mandap in Borigumma town of Koraput district late last night.

According to reports, members of the Durga Puja committee spotted two pangolins roaming near the mandap late at night. While one of the animals reportedly disappeared, the committee members managed to rescue the other and immediately informed the Borigumma Forest Department.

Forest officials reached the spot, rescued the pangolin, and shifted it to the Forest Department office, where it has been kept safely. The rescued pangolin is estimated to weigh more than five kilograms.

Forest officials said the animal would be released into a safe habitat after undergoing a health examination.

Meanwhile, the presence of two pangolins in the heart of Borigumma town, particularly near a Durga Puja mandap, has raised concerns and sparked speculation about how the animals arrived there. There are suspicions that the pangolins may have been brought to the area and abandoned during an illegal wildlife trade deal. However, the circumstances surrounding their appearance remain unclear.