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IN PHOTOS: Rare wildlife species rescued at Mumbai Airport

Updated On: 11 July, 2025 11:53 PM IST | Asif Ali Sayed

Mumbai Customs officials on Friday said that they rescued protected wildlife species which were allegedly smuggled by passengers who arrived Bangkok in Thailand. Pics/Mumbai Customs

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The officials said that the passengers were held at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport and they seized both live and dead animals from them. Pics/Mumbai Customs

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The officials said that the passengers were held at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport and they seized both live and dead animals from them. Pics/Mumbai Customs
The wildlife species were being smuggled into the country. The operation took place during the night duty of July 10 and July 11 July, 2025, under the Airport Commissionerate, Mumbai Customs Zone-III, an official said

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The wildlife species were being smuggled into the country. The operation took place during the night duty of July 10 and July 11 July, 2025, under the Airport Commissionerate, Mumbai Customs Zone-III, an official said

The cases were booked under the Customs Act, 1962, read along with the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, for illegal possession and smuggling of protected species

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The cases were booked under the Customs Act, 1962, read along with the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, for illegal possession and smuggling of protected species

According to the Mumbai Customs, a passenger arriving from Bangkok was intercepted based on specific intelligence

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According to the Mumbai Customs, a passenger arriving from Bangkok was intercepted based on specific intelligence

Upon checking a cream-coloured trolley bag, the custom officers found -- 3 Meerkats (Suricata suricatta) – 2 alive, 1 dead and 1 Great Billed Parrot / Moluccan Parrot (Tanygnathus megalorynchos) – alive. The passenger was arrested, and the wildlife was seized

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Upon checking a cream-coloured trolley bag, the custom officers found -- 3 Meerkats (Suricata suricatta) – 2 alive, 1 dead and 1 Great Billed Parrot / Moluccan Parrot (Tanygnathus megalorynchos) – alive. The passenger was arrested, and the wildlife was seized

In a separate incident, another passenger from Bangkok was caught with -- 2 Sumatran Striped Rabbits (Nesolagus netscheri) – alive,  1 Great Billed Parrot (Tanygnathus megalorynchos) – dead and 1 Indochinese Box Turtle (Cuora galbinifrons) – alive

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In a separate incident, another passenger from Bangkok was caught with -- 2 Sumatran Striped Rabbits (Nesolagus netscheri) – alive,  1 Great Billed Parrot (Tanygnathus megalorynchos) – dead and 1 Indochinese Box Turtle (Cuora galbinifrons) – alive

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