The accused was identified as Ramchandra Rana of the western Odisha district’s Redakhole area. To attract viewers, he used to make videos with snakes, chameleons, and other reptiles and wild animals. Ramchandra Rana’s YouTube channel has over one lakh subscribers.
An official with the Odisha Forest Department said on Wednesday that a 31-year-old YouTuber was arrested in Karanjula village of Sambalpur district for illegally possessing six snakes, including cobras and four chameleons.
The accused was identified as Ramchandra Rana of the western Odisha district’s Redakhole area. To attract viewers, he used to make videos with snakes, chameleons, and other reptiles and wild animals. Ramchandra Rana’s YouTube channel has over one lakh subscribers.
In an interview with the media, Rana admitted to his crime and stated that he caught these species in various locations during the rainy season. Rana claimed that after making a few videos for his YouTube channel, he used to release such species. He, however, denied any involvement in the wild animal trade ring.
Following the receipt of information, forest officials rescued the snakes and chameleons and arrested the youth.
“We apprehended the young man, who has over 1 lakh subscribers on YouTube. He took us to his house when we asked, where we rescued six snakes, including three cobras and four chameleons “Manu Ashok Bhat, assistant conservator of forest (ACF), Sadar Range, Jujumara, confirmed this.
Both animals have been classified as Schedule-II under the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972, making it illegal to keep or hunt them, he said, adding that further investigation was underway to determine whether the youth was involved in a wildlife trade racket.
The channel is in violation of the Information Technology Act of 2000. According to sources, forest department officials requested that YouTube remove the video and take appropriate action.
Prasanta Patnaik 
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