Counter Wildlife Trafficking Newsletter
September 2022
In Focus
Three seizure incidents involving illegal trade of exotic wildlife species were reported from India in September, last month. Notably, the recovered species include primates such as orangutans, spider monkeys, lemurs among others. Other recovered species include, wallabies, and several other exotic species of tortoises, turtles and birds.
Access the media reports here:
Illegal Wildlife Trade in September 2022
News Scan 1 to 30 September 2022
Big Cats
Man puts tiger cubs on sale online, arrested | DT Next
Forest officials in Vellore have arrested a 24-year-old for attempting to sell two tiger cubs online. The accused, along with an associate, runs a pet store and was previously involved in selling pets and exotic animals. However, the officials are yet to locate the tiger cubs, and an investigation to verify whether they were actually in possession of cubs is underway.
Read more here.
More on big cats
Birds
BSF troops rescue 4 eagles from smugglers in south Bengal | India Today
Troops from the Border Security Force in the border outpost of Gongra under the South Bengal Frontier rescued four eagles from a wooden box that smugglers left behind while fleeing. The eagles were brought into India from Bangladesh and the rescued birds have now been handed over to the forest department in Krishnanagar.
Read more here.
More on birds
Elephants
Odisha: Six held in connection with killing of elephant | Argus
Forest officials have arrested six people in connection to killing an elephant in the Tunguri forest using sharp tools. Officials from the forest department found and seized the carcass and launched a probe to arrest the accused.
Read more here.
More on elephants
Marine
Central Crime Station seizes rare and Costly Ambergris; one lady from Little Andaman Apprehended | ANDAMAN SHEEKHA
Acting on intel received from a reliable source, a team of police officers from Port Blair seized 2.049 Kgs of ambergris and detained a woman in connection with its possession.
Read more here.
More on marine
Pangolins
Live pangolin rescued in Cuttack | Argus
The Forest officials, with the help of locals, rescued one live pangolin from a village in Odisha’s Cuttack district Locals spotted a live pangolin and alerted forest officials.The district forest officials reached the spot and rescued the pangolin and initiated an investigation on how the mammal arrived there.
Read more here.
More on pangolins
Red sandalwood
DRI and Customs Seized Red Sandalwood | Punekar News
The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has recovered 10.23 MT of Red Sanders. Based on the said intelligence, the officers of DRI intercepted a container which was in the process of being exported using fake documents. The recovered logs, along with the truck, have been seized.
Read more here.
More on sandalwood
Reptiles
Two Gecko Smugglers From Meghalaya Held Near Guwahati | Guwahati Plus
The Guwahati Police recovered a gecko, and apprehended two persons involved in the smuggling from Meghalaya. The police posing as a buyer, came to buy the gecko and apprehended the two during the sale. The geckos have been handed over to the forest department.
Read more here.
More on reptiles
Tortoise and freshwater turtles
77 Rare Turtles Rescued In Odisha's Malkangiri, 3 Held | Odishabytes
A total of 77 turtles of rare species were rescued and three persons taken into custody by Odisha’s forest department sleuths in Malkangiri district. Acting on specific information, a team of forest department officials launched an operation and intercepted a car coming from Andhra Pradesh. A thorough search of the vehicles led to the recovery of the rare turtles.
Read more here.
More on tortoises and freshwater turtles:
Ungulates
Nilgai meat allegedly being served in Jaipur hotels; two poacher women held | Mirror Now
Nilgai meat is allegedly being served in the name of mutton in Jaipur hotels, local media reported. According to officials, two women poachers have been arrested for hunting and transpoting Nilgai.
Read more here.
More on ungulates
Other
- Eight slow loris recovered from the boot of a four-wheeler, four smugglers from Cachar arrested in Mizoram | Barak Bulletin
- Odisha News: Wildlife smuggler held with leopard teeth; parrot, endangered squirrel rescued | Patrika News
- One held for illegal trade of wild animals at Harike sanctuary | The Tribune India
- Cuttack: Odisha Vigilance conducts raid on saw mill, furniture unit, seizes Rs 8.81 lakh | Kalinga TV
- Wildlife Smuggling Racket Busted In Mayurbhanj, Two Held | Pragativadi
- Leopard Smuggling | Three gangs smuggling leopard skin arrested IV News | Irshi Videos
- A truck full of Khair logs (Acacia catechu) was apprehended from Rangia by the Protection Squad of NK Division | North Kamrup Forest Division on Twitter
- A team of forest officials led by Mrs. Sangeeta Rani Singha, AFS, RO, NR busted two boats full of timber (Rain tree, Gamari, Simol, etc.) seizing a huge quantity of illicit timber | North Kamrup Forest Division on Twitter