Guwahati: A kangaroo was recovered for the first time from a freight van and two persons were arrested for allegedly trafficking the animal in Alipurduar district of West Bengal on Sunday.
The incident took place on National Highway-31 in the Barobisha district near the Assam-West Bengal border.
The arrestees have been identified as Imran Shaikh and Zayed Shaikh. Both of them is a resident of Hyderabad.
As per reports, a police team detained a mini-truck and rescued the animal after receiving a tip.
Kumargram Police Station inspector in-charge Basudeb Sarkar said “During a Naka check, the vehicle was stopped. The two people apprehended are suspected of attempting to smuggle the kangaroo into Hyderabad.”
Many other animals and exotic birds have been rescued before being trafficked, but this is the first time a kangaroo has been rescued, according to the officer.
When asked why kangaroos aren’t common in India, he replied, “The accused are being questioned to learn where the animal was tainted and what their motivation was. They could be connected to worldwide wildlife trafficking ring.”
Kangaroos are huge marsupials native to Australia and New Guinea.