Mumbai: Smuggled exotic animals seized

Over 300 tortoise and turtles have been rescued

The DRI's Mumbai Zonal unit has seized 306 exotic animals that were attempted to be smuggled into India from Thailand, in violation of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). The interception occurred at the Air Cargo Complex in Sahar, Mumbai at 4 am on Friday. Among the declared live ornamental fishes, a hidden stash of 100 turtles, 62 tortoises, 110 snails, 30 juvenile crabs, and 4 stingray fishes was recovered.

The rescued tortoises and turtles belong to various species, such as Greek Tortoise, Red Footed Tortoise, Asian Spurred Tortoise, Yellow Spotted Turtle, Albino Redear Slider Turtle, Asian/Chinese Leaf Turtle, and Red-bellied Short Head Turtle. "We are now taking further action under wildlife law to rehabilitate these exotic animals, consulting with officials from the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) and the Chief Wildlife Warden of Maharashtra," DRI officials said.

306
The number of live species that were caught by the DRI