You expect socks and souvenirs in a suitcase, not sugar gliders and pit vipers! But that’s exactly what customs officials in Mumbai Airport have been finding. Here is a list of 380 animals from 15 different species, caught at Mumbai Airport in the last 35 days!
1 Tarantula & 1 Chaco Golden-Knee Tarantula
This smuggled tarantula travelled hidden and terrified, far from the burrows it knew as home.
80 Iguanas & 6 White Iguanas
These White Iguanas at the Mumbai International Airport recently, exposing yet another instance of wildlife trafficking.
50 live & 30 lifeless honey bears
A heartbreaking find! 50 Honey Bears, native to the rainforests of Central and South America, were recovered in critical condition, 30 couldn’t survive the ordeal.
2 Brazilian Cherry-Head Tortoises & 5 Asian Leaf Turtles
Often trafficked for the exotic pet trade, these slow-moving animals face high stress and survival risks during transport.
6 Leucistic Sugar Gliders
White as snow, wide-eyed, and never meant for a suitcase. Leucistic Sugar Gliders are native to Australia, Indonesia, and New Guinea.
3 Spider-Tailed Horned Vipers & 44 Indonesian Pit Vipers
Each one is at a serious risk, outside its natural habitat. Spider-tailed horned vipers are native to the Zagros Mountains of western Iran and the bordering regions of Iraq. On the other hand, Indonesian pit vipers are native to East Timor as well.
28 Orange-Bearded Dragons & 2 who didn’t make itRescued just in time, these Australian-native reptiles were found packed in cramped containers, desperately needing immediate care.
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Rescued just in time, these Australian-native reptiles were found packed in cramped containers, desperately needing immediate care.
2 rare sunbirds, lost in transit
Tiny, stunning, and sadly found lifeless; reminders of why wildlife trafficking needs to end.
120 animals seized at Mumbai Airport on June 25
Among the rescued animals were Iguanas, Sumatran Striped rabbits, Brown basilisk lizard and Cuscus.
Rescue & Repatriation
Once identified, these exotic animals are handed over to the rescue team for medical care, then placed in quarantine at zoos or sanctuaries. Non-native species are returned to their home countries, while those unfit for the journey are retained.
Arrest at Customs Checkpoint
Customs officers immediately detain the suspect after discovering the animal, whether in checked baggage or cargo. The accused are booked under:
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Customs Act, 1962 – for illegal import
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Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 – for trafficking protected species
