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 59 illegal wildlife trade related data-points from various regions across India and one incident from Bangladesh using open-source information. The highest number of wildlife seizure incidents were reported from Odisha (12), Assam (8), and Tamil Nadu (8). Some of the reported wildlife species included Pangolin, Big cats (Tiger, Leopard), Elephant (Asian Elephant), Marine (Sea cucumber, Black Corals), Non-native (Maleo, Visayan Hornbill, Ball Python, Serval), Birds (Alexandrine Parakeet, Rose-ringed Parakeet, Falcon), Tortoise and freshwater turtle (Indian Flapshell Turtle, Indian Star Tortoise) species.
Important Illegal Wildlife Trade (IWT) news from India and other countries:
1. Incidents involving seizure of pangolin parts/products:
- Based on intelligence, the Forest Department seized 765 Pangolin scales weighing 3.13 kg from Nuapada District, Odisha. Four suspects were arrested. In another separate case, the Forest Department seized 350 Pangolin scales weighing 1.8 kg from Nuapada District, Odisha. Three individuals have been arrested. Link1 Link2 Link3 Link4 Link5
Photo Credit: Times Of India
- Based on Intelligence, the Forest Department seized 13.162 kg Pangolin scales from Kanker District, Chhattisgarh. Four individuals were arrested. Further investigations are underway. Link1
2. Incidents involving seizure of non-native species:
- During routine inspections, the Customs Officials seized eight live Maleo, two live Magnificent Bird-of-paradise, two live King Bird-of-paradise, and two live Visayan Hornbill at Cochin International Airport, Kerala. The birds were hidden in five separate boxes and the consignment came from Bangkok, Thailand. Two individuals have been arrested. Further investigations are underway. Link1 Link2 Link3 Link4 Link5
Photo Credit: Arvind Kumar Chaurasia
Additional Commissioner, Indian Revenue Service (Customs & Indirect Taxes)
- During routine inspections, the Customs Officials seized four juvenile Agile gibbons at Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru, Karnataka. The seized species were concealed in trolleys along with some chocolates and biscuits. The consignment came from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Two passengers have been arrested. Further investigations are underway. Link1 Link2 Link3 Link4
Photo Credit: Hindustan Times
- Based on intelligence, the Customs Officials seized 275 Green iguanas, 91 Pacman frogs, 20 African spurred tortoise, and one Gecko at Terminal two of Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru, Karnataka. The consignment came from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. One passenger has been arrested. Link1 Link2 Link3 Link4
- During routine inspections, the Railway Protection Force (RPF) seized a Savanna Monitor, a Corn snake and a Ball python at platform four of Sir M Visvesvaraya Terminal, Bengaluru, Karnataka. The species were hidden in cardboard boxes which were found abandoned in the coach of Guwahati-SMVT Express. No arrests have been made yet. Further investigations are underway. Link1 Link2 Link3
Photo Credit: The New Indian Express
- Based on intelligence, the Assam Rifles along with the Forest Department seized four De Brazza’s monkeys from Champhai District, Mizoram. One suspect was arrested. Further investigations are underway. Link1 Link2 Link3 Link4 Link5
- During routine inspections, the Border Security Force (BSF) seized 1 live serval near India-Bangladesh Border at Bhattupara Border Outpost, Nadia District, West Bengal. The species was concealed in a big wooden box and the consignment came from Bangladesh. No arrests have been made as the suspects fled abandoning the box. Link1 Link2 Link3 Link4 Link5
Photo Credit: Hindustan Times
Other incidents involving seizure of non-native species:
Photo Credit: The New India Express
3. Incidents involving seizure of marine species:
- During routine inspections, the Forest Department seized 2 kg of sea cucumbers at Thoothukudi District, Tamil Nadu. One suspect was arrested while the other escaped. Further investigations are underway. Link1 Link2
- The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) seized 9.8 kg of black corals, 0.286 kg of soft corals and 6 Trapezium horse conches at Nandyal District, Andhra Pradesh. The seized species were kept in cartons and the suspects procured the consignment from a supplier in Prakasam District, Andhra Pradesh. Two individuals were arrested, further investigations are underway. Link1 Link2 Link3 Link4 Link5
- Based on intelligence provided from the previous case, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) seized dead black corals weighing 6.64 kg at Prakasam District, Andhra Pradesh and the supplier was arrested. Further investigations are underway. Link1 Link2 Link3 Link4
Photo Credit: Telangana Today
Other incidents involving seizure of marine species:
4. Incidents involving seizure of tortoise and freshwater turtle species:
- Based on intelligence, the Police seized 103 Indian flapshell turtles at Dakshin Dinajpur District, West Bengal. The turtles were hidden in four bags which were found on a private bus. Three individuals have been arrested. Further investigations are underway. Link1 Link2
Photo Credit: The Telegraph Online
- Based on intelligence, the police seized 297 Indian flapshell turtles at Mainpuri District, Uttar Pradesh. The suspects procured the turtles from a pond in Karhal and the consignment was heading towards Udham Singh Nagar District, Uttarakhand. Three suspects were arrested. Further investigations are underway Link1 Link2 Link3 Link4 Link5
Other incidents involving seizure of tortoise and freshwater turtle species:
Photo Credit: Deccan Chronicle
5. Incidents involving seizure of bird species:
- Based on intelligence, the Police seized 49 Alexandrine parakeets, 39 Rose-ringed parakeets, two Plum-headed parakeets, 56 pigeons, and two dead parakeets from a market in Jama Masjid at Central Delhi District, Delhi. A case has been registered against the suspects. Link1 Link2 Link3 Link4 Link5
Photo Credit: PETA India
- Based on intelligence, the Forest Department seized 105 parrots at Raipur Railway Station, Raipur District, Chhattisgarh. The birds were confined within a netted cage which was concealed inside a plastic bag. The birds were seized on the Visakhapatnam-Durg Express train. One individual was arrested. Link1
- The Railway Protection Force (RPF) seized 4 Falcons at Burdwan Railway station, Purba Bardhaman District, West Bengal. Link1
Other incidents involving seizure of bird parts/products:
Other IWT news:
- Four arrested in Melghat tiger poaching case | Times Of India
- Three from Mum arrested with suspected wildlife meat | Times Of India
- One detained with 1.3 kg rhino horn in Lakhimpur | Times Of India
- Poacher held with suspected leopard body parts in Chirang | Times Of India
- Two held with tiger skin, bones in Nagaon | Times Of India
- Eight poachers held in Mayurbhanj, Ganjam | The New India Express
- Man held with leopard skin in Boudh | Times Of India
- Two leopard hides seized; wildlife criminal held | Orissa Post
- Major timber syndicate leader detained in Assam’s Tinsukia district | Northeast News
- Gunfire Attack On Forest Officials During Crackdown On Ivory Mafia In Odisha | Odisha Bytes
- Huge quantity of Illicit forest timber seized in Bandipora , FIR Registered | Kashmir News Zone
- State Special Tiger Strike Force (STSF) dispatched to MP's Narmadapuram District to investigate poaching of tiger in Banspani forest | Times Of India
- Four Poachers Arrested In Balangir For Selling Wild Boar Meat | OMMCOM NEWS
- Elephant poacher arrested, body parts seized in Goalpara | Times Of India
- Red sanders anti-smuggling task force nabs three kingpin smugglers in Gujarat, 151 logs seized | Times Of India
- Tiger Skin Seized In Balasore, 11 Arrested | OMMCOM NEWS
- Elephant tusk ivory, rare 'navapashana' alloy idols recovered in Tamil Nadu raid | India Today
- Three poachers arrested | The Hills Times
- Seven held for bid to sell elephant tusks in Krishnagiri | Times Of India
- Jaipur forest department seizes nearly 100 kg sandalwood, oil | The Print
- Assam's Rani forest department seizes illegal timber-laden truck in raid near Pageli Tea Estate | India Today NE
- Four tiger claws seized, two men held in Chandrapur | The Print
- Two held with leopard skin | Times Of India
- Five held for trading wildlife parts, including 1 from UP | Times Of India
- Indian Porcupines rescued from illegal confinement in Bihar | The New Indian
- Live crocodiles and skin were seized at Darbhanga, Bihar | Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB)
- One pair of elephant ivory was seized at Tamil Nadu | Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB)
- Seven no. of Hathajodi (Monitor Lizard's genital part) and 01 no. of Deer Musk pod were seized at Pali, Rajasthan | Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB)
- 401 nos. of bangles made from Elephant ivory were seized at Sirohi, Rajasthan | Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB)