Latest news with #ResqinkAssociationforWildlifeWelfare
Time of India
4 days ago
- Time of India
48 venomous snakes and 5 turtles seized from passenger's luggage at Mumbai airport after arrival from Bangkok; check photos
Source: X An Indian national arriving at Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport from Thailand was intercepted by customs officials for carrying 48 highly venomous snakes and five turtles hidden in his luggage. The discovery was made during a thorough baggage inspection after the passenger disembarked from a flight originating in Bangkok. The seized reptiles included dangerous viper species and protected turtles, raising serious concerns over wildlife trafficking. Authorities, assisted by wildlife experts, are handling the reptiles as per legal protocols under the Wildlife Protection Act. The incident highlights ongoing efforts to combat illegal wildlife smuggling at Indian airports. Passenger with venomous snakes and turtles seized at Mumbai airport The traveller was stopped by customs officials late Saturday evening shortly after debarking from a flight that departed Bangkok. A meticulous search of his checked luggage yielded 48 poisonous vipers, three of which were spider-tailed horned vipers and 44 Indonesian pit vipers, in addition to five Asian leaf turtles. The Customs Bureau posted dramatic images on social media site X of the multicolored snakes squirming in containers at the time of the seizure. The identity of the passenger is not yet known since he is under arrest and has so far not made any public remarks. Source: X Source: X Expert assistance and legal measures enforce wildlife protection laws The Resqink Association for Wildlife Welfare (RAWW) assisted the customs officers in safely identifying and handling the seized reptiles. Later, the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) ordered the repatriation of the seized animals to their respective countries of origin under the provisions of the Wildlife Protection Act, which controls the trade and importation of protected species. India's wildlife protection laws clearly prohibit importing protected and endangered species with or without licenses and permits. The impounded reptiles are subject to these prohibitions, and the seizure has been carried out as part of the strict enforcement of these provisions. Source: X Rising incidents of wildlife trafficking interceptions at Indian airport This case is one of a larger trend of interceptions of wildlife trafficking at Indian airports. Exotic and endangered species smuggling continues to be a lingering problem for customs and wildlife departments. In the last few months, officials have confiscated several wildlife contraband: In January: A Canadian national was apprehended from Delhi airport with a crocodile skull. In February: Mumbai airport customs officials caught a passenger trying to smuggle five Siamang gibbons hidden in a trolley. In November: exotic turtles were confiscated from passengers who had arrived from Bangkok. Chennai airport officials confiscated multiple reptiles, such as a horned pit viper, iguanas, and tortoises, from a passenger who was arriving from Thailand in 2019. Strict regulations govern animal imports to protect India's biodiversity While importing animals into India is not prohibited, the process is strictly regulated. Importers are required to obtain all relevant permits and licenses, and some species, particularly those categorized as endangered or protected, are prohibited from importation entirely. Customs authorities actively enforce these regulations to safeguard India's biodiversity and also block illegal wildlife trade that compromises global conservation efforts and harms indigenous ecosystems. Also Read | 160-year-old historic gold watch discovered from Lake Michigan returns to its hometown in England
Time of India
28-05-2025
- General
- Time of India
Eggs found in drain, 5 monitorlizards brought to life in a box
Mumbai: Five monitor lizard babies were born in a plastic container which served as an artificial incubator. The eggs hatched nearly four months after they had been found in a drain. Municipal workers cleaning the drain in Mulund had found 10 eggs on Jan 26. Initially, it was not clear which species the eggs belonged to, said Pawan Sharma, president of Resqink Association for Wildlife Welfare (RAWW), an NGO that works for animal welfare. "We guessed though that the eggs were of some reptile species," said Sharma who informed the forest department about the find in the drain. Forest officials asked the NGO to take custody of the eggs for artificial incubation. All 10 eggs were placed in a plastic container which had a bed of soil and powdered coconut husk. "This mixture has anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties," said Chinmay Joshi, zoologist who kept a close watch on the eggs. To check if the eggs had life in them, the 'candling' process was used. "A flashlight of high-intensity luminosity was used to check this. If the eggs are fertile, they glow," Joshi said, adding that five of them had life within. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Eyelash Transformation For Older Women Prime Prometics Learn More Undo The temperature within the plastic contained had to be maintained between 27 degrees Celsius and 29 degrees Celsius while the humidity level had to be kept between 70% and 85%, Joshi said, adding that he would examine the eggs in the container every two or three days to ensure that all was well with the temperature and humidity. The spot in Mulund where the eggs had been found is located on the eastern fringe of Sanjay Gandhi National Park, Borivli. Typically, the mother lizard, going by natural instinct, leaves the eggs at a place which she perceives is most conducive for the eggs to hatch. The baby lizards wriggled to life some 114 days after the eggs had been placed in the environment, the closest it could come to what nature would have provided. The eggs hatched one by one, the last of the five on May 21. Five monitor lizard babies were found crawling inside the plastic container. All five were released into the wild, where they belong.
The Print
19-05-2025
- The Print
Man held with 36 exotic reptiles at Mumbai international airport
The passenger was intercepted by officials on Sunday night after they noticed unusual movement in his bag during scanning, an official said. They include 28 live, two dead orange-bearded dragons, and six white iguanas. Mumbai, May 19 (PTI) The Customs officials seized 36 exotic reptiles from a passenger who landed at the Mumbai international airport from Bangkok and arrested him. A wildlife rescue team from RAWW (Resqink Association for Wildlife Welfare) was called for assistance in opening the consignment, identifying and taking care of the species until further actions were to be initiated, said an official from the Forest Department. The Wildlife Crime Control has already issued orders for deporting the live reptiles under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), officials added. PTI ZA NSK This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
