Latest news with #venomousSnakes
Japan Times
a day ago
- Japan Times
Snakes on a plane highlight Thailand-India wildlife trafficking, NGO reports
Venomous vipers found in checked bags on a flight from Thailand to India illustrate a "very troubling" trend in wildlife trafficking driven by the exotic pet trade, a nongovernmental organization warned Tuesday. Indian customs officials last week arrested an Indian national after finding dozens of snakes and several turtles in their luggage. Among them were several spider-tailed horned vipers, a venomous species only described by scientists in 2006 and classed as "near-threatened" by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. The reptiles are among over 7,000 animals, dead and alive, that have been seized along the Thailand-India air route in the last 3 and a half years, said Traffic, which battles the smuggling of wild animals and plants. "The almost-weekly discoveries and diversity of wildlife en route to India is very troubling," said Traffic's Southeast Asia director Kanitha Krishnasamy. Many of those captured were alive, which "shows that the clamor for exotic pets is driving the trade," she added. The group said its analysis showed that while most cases involve animals smuggled out of Thailand, over 80% of interceptions happened in India. More than a third of the wildlife seized is covered by rules banning or strictly regulating their trade across international borders, Traffic added. The group said the "scale and frequency" of the cases suggested more work was needed to investigate "the criminal networks supplying this seemingly endless conveyor belt of wildlife-stuffed bags." They also urged Thailand to work with regional neighbors that have seen similar trafficking routes to India. Thailand is considered a major transit hub for wildlife smugglers, who often sell highly prized endangered creatures on the lucrative black market in China, Vietnam and Taiwan. Last month, Thai police arrested a man suspected of smuggling two baby orangutans into the kingdom for sale.
South China Morning Post
2 days ago
- South China Morning Post
Snakes on a plane highlight Thailand-India trafficking, NGO warns
Venomous vipers found in checked bags on a flight from Thailand to India illustrate a 'very troubling' trend in wildlife trafficking driven by the exotic pet trade, an NGO warned on Tuesday. Indian customs officials last week arrested an Indian national after finding dozens of snakes and several turtles in their luggage. Among them were several spider-tailed horned vipers, a venomous species only described by scientists in 2006 and classed as 'near-threatened' by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. The reptiles are among more than 7,000 animals, dead and alive, that have been seized along the Thailand-India air route in the past three-and-a-half years, said Traffic, a UK-based group that battles the smuggling of wild animals and plants. 'The almost-weekly discoveries and diversity of wildlife en route to India is very troubling,' said Traffic's Southeast Asia director Kanitha Krishnasamy. Many of those captured were alive, which 'shows that the clamour for exotic pets is driving the trade', she said.
The Independent
02-06-2025
- General
- The Independent
Indian smuggler caught at airport with 52 live venomous snakes and exotic animals
An Indian passenger allegedly trying to smuggle venomous vipers was held in Mumbai after flying from Thailand, customs officials in the western city said on Sunday. The man, whose identity wasn't revealed, had concealed 52 live animals, including 44 Indonesian pit vipers, in his checked-in luggage. Photos released by Mumbai Customs showed dozens of turquoise-coloured pit vipers squirming in a bucket and venomous spider-tailed horned vipers slithering. He was also carrying Asian leaf turtles, native to Southeast Asia and known for their distinctive camouflage of leaf-like carapace. 'An Indian national arriving from Thailand was arrested,' Mumbai Customs said, adding that they had seized 44 Indonesian pit vipers, three spider-tailed horned vipers and five Asian leaf turtles. One of the 44 pit vipers had died by the time the luggage was opened. The man, travelling from Bangkok, was intercepted after he 'exhibited signs of nervousness', The Times of india"> India quoted the investigators as saying. The haul of live animals is a rare seizure in Mumbai, where customs authorities regularly seize smuggled gold, cash or drugs. However, this is not the first time they have found live animals flown into India. In February, Mumbai airport authorities found a smuggler with five endangered Siamang gibbons, a small ape native to the forests of Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand. The apes were found concealed in a plastic crate placed inside the passenger's trolley bag. In April last year, customs officials in the southern city of Bangalore arrested a passenger for allegedly smuggling 10 yellow anacondas concealed in his checked-in bag. The passenger was flying in from Bangkok, Thailand. In September 2023, a passenger from Bangkok was found carrying six Capuchin monkeys, 55 ball pythons in various colour variations, and 17 king cobras in their luggage. The primates were found dead, but the snakes were still alive and were later sent to their country of origin.
Daily Mail
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Ana de Armas reveals a full time snake catcher was employed on Queensland set of her movie Eden with cast left 'running and screaming' as the creepy critters constantly slid onto set
Australia is certainly known for it's dangerous critters. And actress Ana de Armas got up and lose and personal with some of the locals while filming the Ron Howard-directed thriller Eden in Queensland last year. The tropical area is known for an array of creepy crawlies and wild beasts - among them several breeds of venomous snakes. The Gold Coast set doubled for the Galapagos Islands, and the 37-year-old said there was a full time snake catcher on staff to catch unwelcome guests who frequently slithered onto the set. 'I remember at random times on set, people just screaming, "Snake!" and everyone running' the Ballerina star Stellar Magazine. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new Showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. 'Stopping the take right away – whatever was happening, whoever was talking – we literally dropped everything and ran away, waiting for the guy to come with the stick and take the snake out.' All was well that ended well, Ana joked, adding, 'But I think we were fine... no accidents happened!' Ron Howard's Eden thriller stars likes of Jude Law, Vanessa Kirby, Sydney Sweeney and de Armas, who plays a married Austrian Baroness who turns up on the archipelago with two boyfriends. Eden tells the stranger-than-fiction true story of lust and murder in a community of unusual folks living on The Galapagos Islands in the 1930s. In real life, Dr Friedrich Ritter (played by Jude) and his lover Dore Strauch (Kirby) arrived on the southern, tropical island of Floreana, a former penal colony, in 1929. They were determined to live according to philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche's guide - embracing vegetarianism and physical labour - despite the unforgiving rocky, lava-encrusted environment, where fresh water was scarce. The couple first met as Dore, then just 26, received treatment for multiple sclerosis at the Hydrotherapeutic Institute in Berlin. With Friedrich understanding the mental stress behind her physical pain, the two quickly fell in love but were both married to other people, explained Eden Undone (2024) by author Abbott Kahler, via The Daily Mail. To solve this problem, Dore came up with a brazen scheme whereby she persuaded Friedrich's wife to move in with her own husband, leaving the doctor and his younger lover free to be with one another. But their romantic fairytale was less suburban life and more living on an uninhabited island, growing their own food, with no need for company or even clothes. It comes after Ana seemingly gave some insight into her decision to keep tight-lipped on her new romance with Tom Cruise, during an interview with ELLE Spain. The Blonde actress has been rumoured to be dating the Hollywood legend, 62, for months, but neither has publicly confirmed their relationship status. When quizzed about the scrutiny into her private life, Ana admitted that she's grown more accustomed to dealing with it and accepted it came as part of the price of fame. Alluding to her apparent determination not to confirm her and Tom's relationship status, she explained she's learned how important it is for her to have a separation between her 'public persona' and private life. She said: 'Over the years, you get more used to it. You learn to find your corners, your privacy, your way of doing things, your lifestyle... 'I'm one of those who think there should be external boundaries, a barrier that's quite visible to others and to oneself. 'Making it clear, "This is as far as I go with my work, my public persona, what's expected of me, and what I want to share with viewers and fans." That's wonderful, and I want to do it. 'You can't let the negative side of fame upset you, because then you won't enjoy the beautiful aspects, but it's essential to separate. 'We're all people and we need that privacy, consideration, and space. 'It seems incredible to have to say it, but we've forgotten that minimum of respect for others. Sometimes we have to make an abrupt stop so others are aware of your reality, but, well, I find my way. When I want to disappear from the map, I do'. However, Ana also admitted that the public criticism she's received over some of her past relationships has 'hurt me at times'.
Daily Mail
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
I sat in my basement for 18 years injecting myself with snake venom. This is why I did it - and why everyone should thank me
There's not a moment's hesitation, let alone fear, as Tim Friede strides into his basement office and proceeds to let two of the world's most venomous snakes sink their fangs into him. In a jaw-dropping two-minute video posted online, he walks over to a box sitting on the floor and pulls out a 10ft-long black mamba.
