The following content is collected from public information and does not represent the views of WCS-India.
Important Illegal Wildlife Trade (IWT) news from India
1. Mizoram’s State Excise and Narcotics Department seized 98 kg of pangolin scales at a checkpoint in Vairengte, Kolasib District, Mizoram. The accused who was driving a cab from Shillong to Aizawl was from Assam’s Cachar District. The contraband was passed on as smoked pork. Link 1, Link 2, Link 3
2. In a multiple turtle species seizure case, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence seized 396 turtles including Indian Roofed Turtle (151), Indian Tent Turtle (220), Indian Crowned Turtle (9) and Brown Roofed Turtle (16) at Visakhapatnam Railway Station, Andhra Pradesh. Two people were arrested carrying the turtles, from Shalimar station at Howrah, West Bengal. The turtles were supposed to be smuggled to Chennai, Tamil Nadu. Link 1, Link 2, Link 3, Link 4, Link 5
3. In a joint operation, Assam Police and Forest Department seized 52 exotic wild animals from Assam’s Hailakandi District near the Mizoram border. The media report mentions the species seized, which include Red-and-blue Lory (43), Black Lory (6), Hornbill (2) and Babirusa (1). Two smugglers who were carrying the wildlife to West Bengal were arrested. As some of this wildlife are native to Indonesia, it is suspected that the consignment came from Indonesia through Myanmar and entered India from Mizoram. The smugglers were using a four-wheeler SUV to transport the consignment. Link 1, Link 2, Link 3, Link 4, Link 5
4. The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence was involved in a seizure of 2 elephant tusks weighing 6.8 kg on the outskirts of Bengaluru, Karnataka. 7 people were arrested. Link 1, Link 2, Link 3, Link 4, Link 5
5. Customs at Chennai Airport seized 4 White Cockatoos from the checked-in baggage of two passengers who arrived from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The birds were concealed in plastic cages and were smuggled from Malaysia. Link 1, Link 2
6. 4 leopard skins were seized from the states of Odisha, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra in four separate incidents. In one of the incidents from Odisha, the leopard skin was seized along with a live pangolin. Link 1, Link 2, Link 3, Link 4
7. In a multiple species seizure case, the Forest Department seized species of reptiles (turtles, snakes), birds and ungulates from Jalgaon, and Chhatrapti Sambhajinagar Districts, Maharashtra. 10 poachers were arrested. Link 1
Important Illegal Wildlife Trade (IWT) news from Thailand:
1. Custom officials at Suvarnabhumi Airport seized 87 live wild animals including 29 monitor lizards, 21 snakes, 15 birds, and 1 Red Panda. The birds were concealed in plastic containers, while the Red Panda was kept inside a basket, and the snakes were coiled together in cloth bags. The live animals were being smuggled to India. Link 1, Link 2
