Koraput: Forest officials arrested four persons and seized a leopard skin during a raid near Kannapadu village under Naira section of Gudari forest range in Rayagada district on Friday. Three motorcycles and four mobile phones were also seized from them. Forest personnel from Gudari and Gunupur ranges conducted the raid in the presence of assistant conservators of forests (ACFs) Sachidananda Sethi and Satish Kumar Dharua.According to forest officials, temple priest Gaurishankar Rana of Kannapadu was caught while allegedly attempting to flee with the leopard skin. Three others were subsequently apprehended during the operation. The arrested persons have been identified as Rana of Derigaon panchayat under Padmapur block, Sriram Patra of Padmapur, whose native place is Shergarh in Ganjam district, retired teacher Philip Bidika of Padmapur block and Maren Mallik of Padasahi in Tajungia village of Kandhamal district.The seized leopard skin measures 107 cm in width and 250 cm in length, ACF Sachidananda Sethi said. “We received information about the leopard skin being in the possession of Rana. Acting on the tip-off, we conducted a raid and seized the skin. We are investigating its origin and trying to ascertain where the leopard was hunted,” Sethi said.Meanwhile, the forest department has launched an investigation to identify those involved in the hunting and illegal trade of the wild animal. Officials are also probing whether more people are part of the suspected wildlife trafficking network.