At Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru, a tourist arriving from Bangkok was taken into custody after ten yellow anacondas were discovered hidden in the checked luggage. The images of the saved snakes were posted by the Bengaluru Customs Department, along with a statement stating that an investigation is underway. Wildlife trafficking will not be permitted, officials added. An X user questioned why officials do not seize animals at the boarding airport in order to stop wildlife smuggling earlier in response to this post. We are still waiting on more details on this case. #Indiancustomsatwork Bengaluru Air #Customs intercepted attempt to smuggle 10 yellow Anacondas concealed in checked-in bag of a pax arriving from Bangkok. Pax arrested and investigation is underway. Wildlife trafficking will not be tolerated. #CITES #WildlifeProtection 🐍✈️ pic.twitter.com/2634Bxk1Hw— Bengaluru Customs (@blrcustoms) April 22, 2024The case in hand! Since anacondas are not indigenous to India, owning them as pets is forbidden. The passenger was discovered in the company of a yellow anaconda, which is native to Paraguay, Bolivia, northern Uruguay, and northeastern Argentina. Many people who are interested in exotic animals keep anacondas as pets. In the illicit pet trade, anacondas are frequently smuggled for their skin. The interception of animal smugglers at Kempegowda International Airport is not new. Three travelers were apprehended in 2023 with four primates and fourteen reptiles. The Karnataka Forest Department received the animals. Officials looking into the matter were directed to a farmhouse on the outskirts of Bengaluru, according to the Times of India. Authorities saved 139 wild animals from this property, including monkeys, anacondas, and even rare birds of different kinds.Wildlife smuggling continues to be an issue despite strict regulations on the trafficking of wildlife in many countries. Two Indian women were detained at the airport in Bangkok in June 2022 after it was discovered that their baggage contained 109 exotic creatures. Turtles, white porcupines, lizards, and snakes were among these creatures. The women were taking a Thai Airways trip to Chennai. The Wildlife Conservation and Protection Act of 2019, the Animal Act of 2015, and the Customs Act of 2017 were cited by the Bangkok Post as the reasons for the womens booking.Wildlife and concerns I always have a serious question in mind as to why this is not detected or stopped at the boarding airport Or the officials there are also a party to the smuggling of banned items — Narasimha Prakash (@nprakash1958) April 23, 2024According to a news release from the Department of National Parks, Wildlife, and Plant Conservation, all of the reptiles were dehydrated when they were rescued, and two iguanas were discovered dead.The animals were immediately transported to a wildlife rescue center and given nutritional supplements. Because they are confined in small spaces or luggage to prevent being discovered and their escape, many animals that are smuggled through airports sometimes perish en route.
