Mumbai: Three Kalyan-Dombivli residents caught smuggling exotic animals at Bengaluru airport

Following the arrest of three KalyanndashDombivli residents at Bengaluru airport for smuggling exotic animals in a suitcase conservationists are urging the forest department to investigate the area as a possible hub for wildlife trafficking Sources indicate that officials are now searching for evidence of a larger trafficking network operating out of KalyanDombivliOn January 16 there was an attempted import of live exotic animals from Bangkok to Bengaluru through Indigo Airlines FlightThe Air Intelligence Unit of Customs at Kempegowda International Airport Bengaluru had intercepted three passengers who arrived from Bangkok Thailand to Bengaluru through Indigo Airlines Flight No 6E 1056 on January 16 When the authorities checked the baggage of the three people live exotic pets were seized from their bagsThe accused are from Kalyan DombivliThe three accused were identified as Aryan Sudan Gite21 a resident of Ashok nagar in Dombivli West Alsana Aslam Shaikh aged 26 Years who is the resident of Mhatre Chal kalyan West and Zareen Aslam Shaikh46 of the same Kalyan west areaWhat was seizedExotic animals were seized at Kempegowda International Airport Bengaluru from three passengers arriving from Bangkok The seizure included two squirrel monkeys one dead five greenyellow iguanas all alive eleven albino iguanas four dead five blue iguanas all alive two Abertrsquos squirrels one dead two Patagonian hares one dead and eight albino sugar gliders of which seven were found dead The live animals were handed over to wildlife authoritiesThe Rhinoceros rat snake found in Vietnam and southern China right Brown Basilisk lizard is native of tropical lowlands of Mexico Central America and northwestern Colombia Representational picsSpecial ArrangementThe exotic wildlife tradeIf you have been paying attention to the news you will notice that incidents of illegal wildlife trafficking as well as trade in exotic species are growing more frequent and the network for the same has only grown bigger It is not limited to the usual suspects like the superrich as buyers and regular importers like breederstraders or sellers as seen in previous yearsThe new customer cuts across economic classesPawan Sharma Advocate and wildlife conservationist Founder amp President RAWW Resqink Association for Wildlife Welfare which has been assisting the state and centre in countering illegal wildlife trafficking since more than a decade said ldquoKalyan Dombivali has been in the spotlight in the past as well when a baby Orangutan along with many snakes lizards tortoise and turtles were recovered from the house of a pet trader who earlier operated from Mumbai and had shifted base to KDMC limits The location as a base seems to be of more strategic value and the customer base has been expanding across the MMR mdash and not limited to Mumbai city alonerdquo he said ldquoThe forest department and wildlife crime control bureau should investigate the Bangalore case in parallel and check the background and link of the three arrested who are also residents of KalyanDombivlirdquo he addedSharma told Sunday midday that the interceptions are being noticed in areas that are otherwise considered highly secured Airports for example have become the scene of intelbased raids and seizuresldquoJust imagine what would be coming in from the sea route and the roadways across borders unknown and unchecked A national countertrafficking team including multiple agencies and multijurisdictional powers is the need of the hour This is not and cannot just be the job of the Forest Department Police or Customs etc as each department is already overburdened and understaffedrdquo added SharmaSocial media posts where people show off ldquoowningrdquo an exotic animal are also one of the major reasons that have influenced this spike in demand among everyday Indians for whom this was earlier an indulgence of the affluent The dark web has also provided a new trade channel say officials involved in the rescues and seizuresExperts believe that not only traditional hunters and poachers but also a new wave of buyers and sellers probably lured with a big payout are involved in the smuggling One can come to this conclusion as most who are caught seem to be firsttimers making the organised syndicate almost untraceable and therefore untouchedldquoThe concept of exotic wildlife as pets has penetrated into the system so deeply and is spreading The rich elite and influential people are seen practising and supporting this including top business tycoons actors and politicians The concept of regulatory trade through CITES has been exploited and misused to import and export several species of flora and fauna across the globe and the unseen negative impact is immeasurable and equally ignoredrdquo said Sharma The situation seems to be right out of a crazy millionaire movie ldquoPrivate collection individuals and private zoos both regulated and illegal in the name of exotic wildlife trade revenue generation models in the name of rescue and rehabilitation or spreading awareness and information are falsely shown in a positive light without understanding the core ethics of wildlife conservation What we see in the open is just the teaser and the actual script is beyond imaginationrdquo added SharmaRohit Mohite from the Thanebased NGOWWA echoes Sharmarsquos sentiments of crossdepartmental collaboration ldquoThere is a need for enhanced coordination and intelligencesharing among wildlife conservation authorities and enforcement agencies to assess whether certain pockets of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region including KalyanDombivli are being misused as transit or operational points in the illegal exotic pet traderdquo said Mohite Mapping out the route being used he explains ldquoPreliminary inputs suggest possible movement routes passing through KalyanndashDombivli and Mumbra with linkages extending to cities such as Pune Thane Palghar and Nashik indicating the likelihood of a wider interdistrict supply chain that warrants close monitoring and timely actionrdquoWhat do Forest Dept officials sayA forest official on condition of anonymity said ldquoPreliminary observations suggest that areas such as KalyanndashDombivli and Mumbra may be points from where exotic wildlife animals are supplied to parts of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region and adjoining districts including Thane Pune Nashik and Palghar Notably the three individuals recently arrested in Bengaluru for possession of exotic wildlife pets are residents of KalyanndashDombivli Authorities are examining whether they have a prior history of involvement and possible links to a larger networkrdquoAn official from the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau WCCB said they have received details of the three Maharashtrabased accused who were apprehended at Bengaluru airport with exotic pets and efforts are underway to gather further information ldquoWe will also keep a close watch on those who have been arrestedrdquo the official addedWhat happens to seized speciesUnder existing Animal Quarantine amp Certification Services AQCS and Indian Customs rules these animals must be sent back immediately to their country of origin with intimation to all relevant authorities there The transport of animals and birds by air is already governed under Aeronautical Information Circular AIC 9 of 1985The Dombivli caseIn November 2024 the Forest Department conducted a raid in Dombivli during which orangutans and other wild species were rescuedPricing of exotic animalsRs 10KR15KSquirrel monkeyRs 10KR20KBlue iguanasRs 10KR15KGreen yellow iguana pairDid you know As per the provisions of the Export ImportEXIM policy import of live animals listed under the Wild Life Protection Act 1972 and listed under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora CITES are strictly regulated The import of such animals without a valid CITES Export Permit a Directorate General of Foreign Trade DGFT license NOCs from the Chief Wildlife Warden Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change MOEFampCC and an Animal Quarantine Certificate is prohibited Furthermore the commercial trade of species listed in CITES Appendixl and ScheduleIV of the Wild Life Protection ACt 1972 is also prohibited