Assam: Officials In Rangia Seize Rare Tortoises, Monkeys And Wallabies Smuggled From Myanmar

GUWAHATI: A large number of exotic wild animals that were smuggled through Myanmar were recovered by Assam police and forest officials in Rangia on Thursday.

Rare tortoises, monkeys and wallabies are reportedly part of the stash of exotic wildlife, being carried in special crates, which was recovered from two luxury vehicles with Delhi number plates at Rangia in Kamrup district. Drivers of the two SUVs, with army stickers on them, were detained for smuggling the rare animals.

Kamrup superintendent of police Hitesh Roy said, "The vehicles were on their way to Delhi from the Myanmar border in Mizoram. The SUVs had army stickers pasted on them."

Meanwhile, Assam Forest officials said they were in the midst of the process of identifying all the seized rare species being carried in crates, and that the exact number of animals being smuggled and the particular specie types will be known only after proper verification.

"We are still trying to verify what species of animals were seized. It will take some time," said Sunny Deo Choudhury, divisional forest officer, North Kamrup division.

Of the 360 known turtle and tortoise species, 187 are threatened, according to the IUCN Red List criteria. Of these, 127 are endangered or critically endangered. Many could go extinct this century. Threats include the pet trade, overconsumption for food and medicine, loss of habitat, pollution, invasive species, and climate change.

It is not clear if such endangered species is among the exotic animals recovered on Thursday.

Earlier, forest personnel in Kamrup had rescued five exotic monkeys including a Northern White-cheeked Gibbon and Tufted Capuchin (both critically endangered wildlife) and a wallaby from suspected smugglers In April this year. A person from Maharashtra, who was driving the vehicle in which the animals were found, was also arrested in the matter.

Also in April this year, fived caged primates were recovered from a vehicle with Manipur number plates, in Karbi Anglong district of Assam. The primates, belonging to a species primarily found in Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia, were identified as Siamang Gibbons. Two residents of Manipur travelling in the vehicle, were arrested in this connection.

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