The following content is collected from public information and does not represent the views of WCS-India.
We collected and collated 53 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 Tamil Nadu (8), Maharashtra (6), and Odisha (6). Some of the reported wildlife species included Tortoises and Freshwater Turtles (Indian Flapshell Turtle, Indian Softshell Turtle, Indian Tent Turtle, Indian Star Tortoise), Birds (Plum-headed Parakeet, Rose-ringed Parakeet) Pangolin (Indian Pangolin), Non-natives (Golden Pheasant, Banded Civet, Laotian Langur, Spectacled Crocodile) species.
Three illegal wildlife trade incidents were reported from countries such as Malaysia and Vietnam. Some of the commonly reported wildlife species in seizures were the Asian Elephant, Indian Eyed Turtle, Long-tailed Macaque, False Gharial and Pig-nosed Turtle.
Important Illegal Wildlife Trade (IWT) news from India and other countries:
1. Incidents involving the seizure of Tortoise and freshwater turtle (TFT) species:
- The Border Security Force (BSF) seized 195 Indian Star Tortoises at the international border of North 24 Parganas District in West Bengal. The tortoises were being smuggled to Bangladesh. One smuggler was arrested. Link1 Link2 Link3 Link4 Link5
Photo Credit: IANS
- The Forest Department seized 470 live and 69 dead Softshell Turtles from two vehicles in Malkangiri District, Odisha. The turtles were hidden beneath fertilizer bags and were being smuggled from Andhra Pradesh. Link1 Link2 Link3 Link4 Link5
Photo Credit: The New Indian Express
In another separate incident, 498 Indian Softshell Turtles and Indian Tent Turtles were seized from a pick-up van by the Forest Department at Malkangiri District, Odisha. They were concealed in 35 gunny bags. They were also being smuggled from Andhra Pradesh. Link1 Link2 Link3 Link4
Photo Credit: Ommcom News
- The Forest Department seized 7 live and 64 dead unidentified turtles from Alluri Sitaraman Raju District, Andhra Pradesh. The turtles were found abandoned on the outskirts of Gangavaram and the suspects escaped. The consignment was heading towards Odisha. Link1 Link2
- The Forest Department and Police seized 2 Indian Flapshell Turtles from a truck bearing Chhattisgarh registration number, at Kamrup Metropolitan District, Assam. Two smugglers hailing from Chhattisgarh were arrested. Link1 Link2 Link3
- The Railway Protection Force seized 30 unidentified turtles at Alipurduar Railway Station, West Bengal. The consignment was coming from a station in Uttar Pradesh, and it was further heading towards Assam. No arrest has been made yet. Link1
- Government Railway Police (GRP) seized 10 Indian Softshell Turtles from Prayagraj Railway Station, Uttar Pradesh. The Turtles were being smuggled from Uttar Pradesh to Bihar. Two smugglers were arrested. Link1 Link2 Link3 Link4
Other incidents involving TFTs:
2. Non-native species:
- The Forest Department along with the Police seized a Owston's Civet and a Laotian Langur in Imphal West District, Manipur. One suspect was arrested. Link1 Link2 Link3
- Photo Credit: Imphal Free Press
- Acting on intelligence reports, the Border Security Force (BSF) seized 4 Golden Pheasant which were hidden in plastic bags along the Indo-Bangladesh Border in North 24 Parganas District, West Bengal. The suspects fled towards Bangladesh, abandoning the birds. Link1 Link2 Link3 Link4 Link5
Photo Credit: The Bengal
- Custom Officials seized 5 Juvenile Spectacled Crocodiles from two passengers arriving from Bangkok, Thailand at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, Maharashtra. They were concealed in a surgical mask box. Link1 Link2 Link3 Link4 Link5
Photo Credit: The Indian Express
- Custom Officials seized 4967 live and 12 dead Yellow-bellied Slider Turtles and 19 Albino Red Eared Slider Turtles from two passengers arriving from Kuala Lumpur, Malayasia at Chennai International Airport, Tamil Nadu. Link1 Link2
Photo Credit: Arvind Kumar Chaurasia, Additional Commissioner, Indian Revenue Service (Customs & Indirect Taxes)
3. Pangolin:
- Based on a tip-off, The Forest Department seized a live Indian Pangolin weighing 8.97 kg from Nabarangpur District, Odisha. One suspect was arrested. Link1 Link2 Link3 Link4
- The Forest Department arrested four suspects and seized 1 live Pangolin from Bastar District, Chhattisgarh. They had smuggled the Pangolin from Odisha to Chhattisgarh. Link1 Link2 Link3
- Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) and the Forest Department seized one live Indian Pangolin in a joint operation from Jayashankar Bhupalpally District, Telangana. Link1 Link2
Photo Credit: Wildlife Crime Control Bureau
Other incidents involving the seizure of Pangolin parts/products:
4. Marine species:
- Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) and the Forest Department seized 35 Top Shells in a joint operation from Ajmer District, Rajasthan. Link1 Link2
Photo Credit: Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB)
- Wildlife Crime Control Bureau and the Forest Department seized 286 kg Sea Cucumbers from Ramanthapuram District, Tamil Nadu. Link1 Link2
Photo Credit: Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB)
5. Incidents involving seizure of multiple species parts/products:
- The Forest Department seized 70 live and 3 dead Parakeets which were being smuggled from Meerut at the Bandra Terminus, Maharashtra. They were being transported for sale at Crawford market. Based on further investigations, the officials discovered a warehouse near Crawford market where several species including Rose-ringed Parakeet, Alexandrine Parakeet, Plum-headed Parakeet, Yellow-footed Green-pigeon, Red-breasted Parakeet and Indian Star Tortoise were seized. Link1 Link2
- Based on inputs received from Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) Delhi, the Forest Department carried out raids at multiple locations within Kota District, Rajasthan and seized parts/products of several species including Monitor Lizard, Turtle, Deer, Golden Jackal, Leopard, Chinkara, Pangolin, and Musk Deer. Four suspects were arrested. Link1 Link2 Link3 Link4 Link5
Photo Credit: Times Of India
- The Forest Department arrested three individuals and seized several bird species including Plum-headed Parakeet, Rose-ringed Parakeet and Red Avadavat from Varanasi District, Uttar Pradesh. Link1
Other incidents involving seizure of multiple species parts/products:
6. Incidents involving seizure of Elephant parts/products:
- 2 Tusks weighing 7 kg were seized in a joint operation by Uttarakhand Special Task Force (STF), Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force, and Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) in Bareilly District, Uttar Pradesh. Three suspects were arrested. Link1 Link2 Link3 Link4 Link5
- Based on specific inputs, Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) and the Forest Department seized 2 elephant tusks from Coimbatore District, Tamil Nadu. Six suspects were arrested. Further investigation is underway. Link1 Link2
- Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) seized huge contraband of ivory products in Jodhpur District, Rajasthan. Link1 Link2
Photo Credit: Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB)
7. Railway Protection Force (RPF) seized more than 200 Parakeets at Sasaram Railway Station, Rohtas District, Bihar. Link1
Photo Credit: Arvind Kumar Chaurasia, Additional Commissioner, Indian Revenue Service (Customs & Indirect Taxes)
Other IWT news:
- Two cut trees from reserve forest, held | Times Of India
- Assam: “Poacher” nabbed with venison in Raimona National Park | Northeast Now
- Central Forest Division Cracks Down on Wildlife Trafficking | DIPR Manipur
- Indian Customs seized 410 Pcs. of Red Sanders Logs at JNPT, Mumbai | LinkedIn
- Kolkata-bound red sanders consignment worth ₹1 crore seized in Tirupati | The Hindu
- Maharajganj News: Red sandalwood was hidden in the roof of the truck, customs caught it | Amar Ujala
- Five poachers held; tiger teeth seized | The New Indian Express
- Four red sanders smugglers held, 54 logs seized | Hans India
- Three smugglers held; 38 red sanders logs recovered | Hans India
- Vehicle with illegal timber seized in Teerina Mawer” | Kashmir News Zone
- 5.6 kg of whale vomit was sold for Rs 6.20 crore and the REASON is surprising | Times Of India
- Five arrested by Pune forest dept for poaching wild boar | Hindustan Times
- Two poachers arrested while cooking deer meat | Garhwal Post
- DRI seizes 4.4 MT Red Sanders from a vehicle brought to Delhi NCR | Directorate of Revenue Intelligence
- 38 pieces of Monitor Lizard Genital parts were seized in joint operation conducted by WCCB and Ajmer forest department | Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB)
- 409 Nos. of Paint Brushes made of Mongoose fur were seized in joint operation conducted by WCCB and Tamil Nadu Forest department | Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB)
- 86 Nos. of Paint Brushes made of Mongoose fur were seized in joint operation conducted by WCCB and Tamil Nadu Forest department | Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB)
- 5 Nos. of Deer Antler were seized in joint operation conducted by WCCB and Tamil Nadu Forest department | Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB)
- Cops arrest man, seize guns, ammunition and wildlife | New Straits Times
- 17 endangered macaques illegally captured on Con Dao Islands | VNE Express
- Cops bust wildlife smuggling ring, RM1.8mil worth of endangered crocs, turtles seized | The Star