The following content is compiled from publicly available sources and does not represent the views of WCS-India. Reported species in seizure incidents may differ from actual occurrences due to challenges in verifying species identification, geographical differences, and varying levels of detail in local reporting. Please interpret this information within the newsletter with caution, as it may not always reflect precise or validated identification.
We collected and collated 52 illegal wildlife trade related data-points from various regions across India using open-source information. The highest number of wildlife seizure incidents were reported from Maharashtra (7), Andhra Pradesh (6), and Odisha (6). Some of the reported wildlife species included Pangolin (Indian Pangolin), Big cats (Tiger, Leopard), Elephant (Asian Elephant), Marine (Sea horse, Shark), Non-native (Ball Python, Dwarf Caiman, Iguana, Orangutan, Albino Bat, Japanese Pond Turtle), Birds (Bulbul, Alexandrine Parakeet, Rose-ringed Parakeet) species.
Two illegal wildlife trade incidents were reported from countries such as Bangladesh and Bhutan. Some of the commonly reported wildlife species in seizures were Pangolin and Asian Elephant.
Important Illegal Wildlife Trade (IWT) news from India and other countries:
1. Incidents involving seizure of pangolin parts/products:
- The Forest Department seized 4.6 kg of pangolin scales from Darjeeling District, West Bengal. According to the media reports, the scales were brought from Assam, and the consignment was heading towards China via Nepal. One individual was arrested. Link1 Link2 Link3 Link4 Link5
Photo Credit: Siliguri Times
- In another incident, the Forest Department seized 4 kg of pangolin scales from Imphal East District, Manipur. One individual was arrested. Link1 Link2 Link3 Link4
- Based on intelligence, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) seized a live Indian pangolin from Sri Satya Sai District, Andhra Pradesh. The pangolin was concealed within a jute gunny bag. Four suspects were arrested. Further investigation is underway. Link1 Link2 Link3 Link4
Photo Credit: India Today
- Based on intelligence, the Forest Department seized a live pangolin at Salem District, Tamil Nadu. The pangolin was poached from the Yercaud Forest Range, Salem District, Tamil Nadu. The suspects were trying to sell the pangolin via social media. Five suspects were arrested. Further investigation is underway. Link1
- The Forest Department seized a live pangolin at Mancherial District, Telangana. Five suspects were arrested. Link1 Link2
- The Forest Department along with the Police seized one live pangolin from Dhaka, Bangladesh. Three individuals have been arrested. Link1
2. Incidents involving seizure of native and non-native species from airports:
- During routine inspections, the Customs Officials seized 8 live Japanese pond turtles along with 4 live red cheek mud turtles at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, Mumbai Suburban District, Maharashtra. The turtles were hidden inside rectangular plastic boxes, which were further concealed between the food packets inside the trolley bags. The consignment came from Bangkok, Thailand. Two suspects were arrested. Further investigations are underway. Link1 Link2 Link3 Link4 Link5
Photo Credit: Mumbai Customs-III
- Based on intelligence, the Customs Officials seized several non-native species including red footed tortoise, Mexican beaded lizard, green iguana, agile gibbon, leopard tortoise, and an albino variant of a bat species etc. from Kempegowda International Airport, Bangalore Rural District, Karnataka. The species were hidden in the luggage and the consignment came from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Two individuals were arrested. Further investigations are underway. Link1 Link2 Link3
Photo Credit: Bengaluru Customs
- Customs Officials seized two live common spotted cuscus and one live eastern common cuscus from Hyderabad Airport, Telangana. The species were concealed in the luggage of the suspect. The consignment came from Bangkok, Thailand. One passenger was arrested. Link1 Link2 Link3
Photo Credit: The Siasat Daily
- Customs Officials seized several non-native birds including Yellow-faced parrot, King Bird-of-paradise, and Flame bowerbird from Bangalore airport, Karnataka. Link1
- During routine inspections, Customs Officials seized two live albino snakes at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA), Hyderabad District, Telangana. The snakes were concealed in a basket. The consignment came from Bangkok, Thailand. Two passengers were arrested. Further investigations are underway. Link1 Link2 Link3 Link4 Link5
Photo Credit: Hyderabad Mail
- Based on intelligence, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) seized 6 live Common Bluetongue at Visakhapatnam International Airport, Andhra Pradesh. The species were hidden in cake packets. The consignment came from Thailand. Two passengers were arrested. Further investigations are underway. Link1 Link2 Link3
Photo Credit: YO! Vizag
- Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) along with Customs Officials seized several non-native species including rattle snake, ball python, dwarf caiman etc. from Hyderabad Airport, Telangana. The species were concealed in plastic containers. Two suspects were arrested. Link1 Link2 Link3
- Customs Officials seized 6 dwarf caimans at Visakhapatnam Airport, Andhra Pradesh. The consignment came from Thailand. Link1
- Customs Officials seized several native and non-native birds including Blue-crowned Hanging-parrot, Red-whiskered bulbul, Raggiana Bird-of-paradise, Sulawesi myna etc. at Bangalore airport, Karnataka. The consignment came from Bangkok, Thailand. Link1
- The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) seized 55 live Black Salamander from Tiruchirappalli International Airport, Tamil Nadu. The species were concealed in the luggage. The consignment came from Kuala Lumpur, Malayasia. One individual was arrested. Link1 Link2
Photo Credit: Twitter| Lalitha Kunaratnam
Other incidents involving seizure of non-native species:
- Orangutan and endangered reptiles seized from flat at Dombivli's Palava City | Hindustan Times
- Three held for smuggling exotic animals in Srikakulam | Times of India
Photo Credit: Hindustan Times
3. Incidents involving seizure of bird species:
- The Railway Protection Force (RPF) seized 130 bulbuls from Asansol Railway Station, Paschim Bardhhaman District, West Bengal. The birds were kept in two iron cages. Further investigations are underway. Link1 Link2
- Based on intelligence, the Forest Department seized 20 Rose-ringed parakeets from Udhampur District, Jammu and Kashmir. The birds were kept in cages and the consignment was heading towards Srinagar. One individual was arrested. Further investigations are underway. Link1 Link2 Link3 Link4 Link5
Photo Credit: ANI
- Based on intelligence, the Police seized 200 alexandrine parakeets from a bus in Ghaziabad District, Uttar Pradesh. The birds were kept in cages which were concealed in the place of stepney (spare tire) which was further covered with gunny bags. Two suspects have been arrested. Further investigations are underway. Link1 Link2 Link3
Other incidents involving seizure of bird species:
Photo Credit: Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB)
4. Incidents involving seizure of marine species:
- The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) seized 95 kg of dried shark fins along with 25 kg of dried sea horse from Chennai District, Tamil Nadu. The species were hidden in sacks. Two suspects have been arrested. Further investigations are underway. Link1
Photo Credit: The New Indian Express
Other incidents involving seizure of marine species:
5. During routine inspections, Government Railway Police (GRP) seized 94 live turtles from Ayodhya Railway Station, Uttar Pradesh. The turtles were found in a restroom, and they were hidden in unclaimed sacks and bags. No arrests have been made yet. Further investigations are underway Link1 Link2 Link3
Other IWT news:
- Wildlife smuggler held with deer musk & hooves in Dehradun | Times of India
- Youth arrested in Guna for smuggling rare sand boa snake | Times of India
- WB Forest Officials Arrests Three Sikkim People With Skin of Himalayan Flying Squirrel | Voice of Sikkim
- Elephant hair confiscated from jewellery shop | Times of India
- One detained with elephant tusks in Keonjhar | Times of India
- Five held with leopard & cheetal skins in anti-poaching op | Times of India
- Trio held with leopard skin in Mayurbhanj | Times of India
- Two held for poaching leopard, eating its meat in Odisha | The New Indian Express
- Sneaky Ivory Poachers Bypass Forest Department, Arrested by Police | News Blaze India
- Forest officials arrest 12 persons, seize 6.5 kg of ivory artefacts in Villupuram | The Hindu
- Nine arrested for possessing elephant tusks near Vellore | Times of India
- Arunachal: Forest officials bust massive illegal timber smuggling operation on Siang river | India Today NE
- Sambar meat seized in a raid | Times of India
- Assam: Youth attacked by alleged timber smugglers | The Hills Times
- Three held with leopard skin along CG-Odisha border | Times of India
- Five arrested in Andhra Pradesh for possession of deer skins, antlers | India Today
- Three held for 'killing' leopard at Raimona park | Times of India
- Anjangaon tiger was poached, body parts missing | Times of India
- MP tiger force catches key link in China poaching syndicate, transfered to TN | Times of India
- Man detained with raw deer meat in Tripura | The Hills Times
- Odisha forest officials arrest two poachers for possessing leopard skin, country gun | The New Indian Express
- Four nabbed for elephant tusks deal | Kuensel
- Leopard skin was seized at Mewasi, Maharashtra | Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB)