Counter Wildlife Trafficking Newsletter
October 2022
In Focus
Four seizure incidents involving illegal trade in exotic wildlife were reported from India in October 2022 - From Assam, Maharashtra, Mizoram and Tamil Nadu. Notably, recovered animals included non-native felines, primates, and marsupials. Other recovered species include non-native birds and reptiles, such as snakes, tortoises and turtles.
Access the media reports here:
News Scan 1 to 31 October 2022
Big Cats
STF arrests three persons, seizes three leopard skin | OrissaPOST
The Special Task Force (STF) of Odisha Police have seized three leopard skins upon conducting a raid at Malidhi Chaka. The raid was conducted based on reliable information, and three persons were arrested on the charge of smuggling wildlife body parts.
Read more here.
More on big cats:
KP wildlife department foils attempt to smuggle rare falcons worth millions | Samaa
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa wildlife department, along with officials from the Saddar police station recovered two rare breed falcons during a check of a passenger bus on the Indus highway. The falcons were to be sold internationally for millions of rupees. Instead, they were set free in Kotal Wildlife Park.
Read more here.
More on birds:
Elephants
Minor among 13 held for killing elephant calf in Chhattisgarh’s Korba | India Today
13 people, including a minor, have been held by forest officials for killing an elephant calf and burying it in a paddy field in Korba, Chhattisgarh. The calf was killed by poisoning. When the calf went missing, the herd of 44 elephants went on a rampage, killing a man and three cattle in a nearby village.
Read more here.
More on elephants:
Tamil Nadu: Sea cucumber smuggling continues, nine tonnes seized in 10 months | The New Indian Express
Despite measures taken by the government, smuggling of sea cucumbers continues unabated in coastal districts. This year, nine tonnes of sea cucumbers were seized in Rameswaram and Mandapam regions. Marine and forest department officials also seized 90 kilograms of live sea cucumbers from a man in Thangachimadam.
Read more here.
More on marine:
Pangolins
Pangolin seized, woman held at Macherla | Deccan Chronicle
A pangolin was seized and a woman arrested by forest authorities in Macherla in the Palnadu district of Andhra Pradesh. The animal was shifted to an animal rescue centre to be treated for its injuries. It was reportedly brought in from Nalgonda in Telangana.
Read more here.
More on pangolins:
Red Sandalwood
Andhra Pradesh: Red sanders logs worth Rs 1.2 crore seized in Chittoor | Times of India
Police seized red sanders logs weighing two tonnes and worth approximately 1.2 crore in the Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh. A mini truck, two cars, and a bike were also seized, and eight smugglers were arrested.
Read more here.
More on red sanders:
Tortoise and freshwater turtles
Odisha: 111 softshell turtles seized | News Drum
111 softshell turtles were seized from a house in the Balasore district of Odisha. The turtles were to be sold to a trader in West Bengal. The raid was conducted after receiving a tip-off from a person previously arrested for the possession of 40 turtles.
Read more here.
More on tortoise and freshwater turtles:
Other
Uttarakhand: Three poachers nabbed from Corbett Tiger Reserve | Hindustan Times
The Uttarakhand forest department arrested three poachers in the Kalagarh division of Corbett Tiger Reserve. The team recovered one 12 bore gun, 17 cartridges, one sharp weapon, four knives, a search light, and a torch.The poachers were booked under the Forest Conservation Act and Arms Act.
Read more here.
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