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 42 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 (6), Andhra Pradesh (4), and Assam (4). Some of the reported wildlife species included Tortoises and Freshwater Turtles (Indian Flapshell Turtle), Birds (Rose-ringed Parakeet), Pangolin (Indian Pangolin), Big cats (Tiger, Leopard), Elephant (Asian Elephant) and Non-natives (Common Green Iguana, Siamang, Visayan hornbill, Sulawesi hornbill) species.
Three illegal wildlife trade incidents were reported from countries such as China, Indonesia and Pakistan. Some of the commonly reported wildlife species in seizures were Alligator Snapping Turtle, Spangled Ebony Langur, Moluccan King-parrot, Yellow-throated Hanging-parrot and Mugger.
Important Illegal Wildlife Trade (IWT) news from India and other countries:
1. Incidents involving seizure of pangolin parts/products:
- The Forest Department seized a live pangolin weighing four kg at Belagavi District, Karnataka. The pangolin was kept in a bag which was further concealed under vegetables. Two suspects were arrested, further investigation is underway. Link1
Photo Credit: Public TV English
- Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) seized a live pangolin in a joint operation from Warangal District, Telangana. Link1
- Based on intelligence, the Forest Department seized a live Indian pangolin in the YSR District of Andhra Pradesh. The pangolin was poached from the Udayagiri Forest of Nellore District and was later smuggled to Nakkakonda Forest of YSR District. Five individuals were arrested. Link1 Link2
- Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) along with the Forest Department seized 5.27 kg of pangolin scales at Jorhat District, Assam. One suspect was arrested. Link1 Link2
- In another separate incident, Wildlife Crime Control Bureau along with the Forest Department seized 5 kg of pangolin scales at Rohtas and Gaya Districts of Bihar. Link1
Photo Credit: Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB)
- Based on intelligence, the Forest Department seized pangolin scales along with a hog deer skin in Cooch Behar District, West Bengal. Three suspects who were from Assam were arrested during their transit via road. Link1
2. Incidents involving seizure of tortoise and freshwater turtle species:
- The Noida Police seized 14 Indian flapshell turtle from Noida sector-10, Gautum Buddha Nagar District, Uttar Pradesh. The turtles were kept hidden in baskets. Two suspects were arrested. Link1 Link2 Link3 Link4
Photo Credit: The Indian Express | Gajendra Yadav
- During routine inspections, the Government Railway Police (GRP) seized 14 turtles from Cheoki Railway Station, Prayagraj District, Uttar Pradesh. The turtles were concealed in sacks. The consignment was heading towards Kolkata, West Bengal Link1 Link2 Link3
Other incidents involving seizure of tortoise and freshwater turtle species:
3. Incidents involving seizure of marine species:
- Based on intelligence, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) along with the Forest Department seized 197.7 kg of coral rocks and two macaws from a pet shop in Pune District, Maharashtra. One suspect was arrested. Link1 Link2 Link3 Link4 Link5
Photo Credit: The Indian Express
- The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) seized 103 kg of sea cucumber from a hotel in Cochin, Ernakulam District, Kerala. Two individuals were arrested. Link1
Other incidents involving seizure of marine species:
4. Incidents involving seizure of non-native species:
- Customs Officials seized four siamang and 52 common green iguana at Chennai Airport, Tamil Nadu. The consignment came from Kuala Lumpur, Malayasia. The seized species were hidden in ventilated bags and packed in carton boxes. A suspect from Malaysia was arrested. Further investigation is underway. Link1 Link2 Link3 Link4 Link5
Photo Credit: Chennai Customs
- Customs Officials seized two visayan hornbill and two sulawesi hornbill at Mumbai Airport, Maharashtra. The birds were concealed in rectangular boxes which were kept under the food packets in the trolley of the suspects. The consignment came from Bangkok, Thailand. Two suspects were arrested. Link1 Link2 Link3 Link4 Link5
Photo Credit: Mumbai Customs-III
- Custom Officials seized two spangled ebony langur, one moluccan king-parrot, and one yellow-throated hanging-parrot at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, Indonesia. The consignment was headed towards Mumbai, Maharashtra. One suspect was arrested. Link1 Link2
Other incidents involving seizure of non-native species:
5. Incidents involving seizure of big cat parts/products:
- Based on Intelligence provided by Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB), the Special Task Force (STF) seized two leopard skins at Uttarkashi District, Uttarakhand. The length of the seized skins are 6 ft and 8 ft respectively. One suspect was arrested. Further investigation is underway. Link1 Link2 Link3 Link4 Link5
Photo Credit: Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB)
- The Forest Department seized a tiger skin from a lodge at Thalaivasal, Salem District, Tamil Nadu. Three individuals were arrested. Further investigation is underway. Link1
Other incidents involving seizure of big cat parts/products:
6. Incidents involving seizure of elephant parts/products:
- The Forest Department along with the Police seized two elephant tusks weighing 23 kg at Buxar District, Bihar. Six suspects were arrested. Link1 Link2 Link3 Link4 Link5
Photo Credit: Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB)
- In another separate incident, Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) along with the Forest Department seized an elephant tusk weighing 20 kg from Bhojpur District, Bihar. Link1
Photo Credit: Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB)
- The Forest Department seized elephant tusks at Balangir District, Odisha. The elephant was poached in Asura Dunguri Forest under the Sadar range of Balangir Forest Division. Five suspects were arrested. Link1 Link2
7. Based on intelligence, the Wildlife Welfare Association (WWA) seized a mongoose, a rhesus monkey, and two rose-ringed parakeets from a pet shop in Thane District, Maharashtra. The seized animals were smuggled from Malegaon, Nashik District and they were heading towards Mumbai. One individual was taken into custody. Link1
Photo Credit: Wildlife Welfare Association (WWA)
Other IWT news:
- Some critically endangered Channa Barca fish, were recovered in a successful rescue operation by the Assam Forest department | Guwahati Plus
- Four held for smuggling rare sand boa snake in Mumbai | Times Of India
- Teakwood trafficking thrawted in Akola | Times Of India
- Injured foresters arrest two wood smugglers in Nanital after getting attacked | Times Of India
- Assam: Two held for illegal bird hunting in Bajali | Northeast Now
- Man poaches sambar deer to serve meat at feast: Forest dept | Hindustan Times
- DRI seizes 2.974 MT Red Sanders from two containers at Kaatupalli Port | Directorate of Revenue Intelligence
- Illegal timber seized | Daily Excelsior
- Tirupati: 14 Red Sanders Logs Seized, Three Smugglers Arrested | Deccan Chronicle
- 26 red sanders logs seized, 4 held | Hans India
- 370 kg of Deer Meat Seized, Police Apprehends Two for Illegal Wildlife Trade | Nicobar Times
- Vehicle seized for violation of FPT regulations | Daily Excelsior
- Two Bhutanese and an Indian counterpart were detained by the Jaigaon Police while trying to smuggle around 90 logs or 1,000 kg+ of sandalwood from India into Bhutan | The Bhutanese
- Three men smuggling 236 alligator snapping turtles caught by Shenzhen Luohu Customs | GD Today
- Wildlife department seizes ‘marsh crocodile’ in Kasur | Dawn