National Desk, 8th September: Customs officials at Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru, Karnataka, seized a substantial quantity of exotic animals, including 55 ball pythons, 17 king cobras, and six capuchin monkeys.
These animals were discovered in baggage that arrived on an Air Asia flight from Bangkok (Flight Number FD 137) at 10:30 pm on a Wednesday. While the pythons and cobras were found alive and in active condition, the monkeys were unfortunately found dead.
All 78 creatures, including the live pythons and cobras, were Schedule animals under the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972 and were classified in the CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) Appendices, according to a statement from Bengaluru Customs.
The seized animals were confiscated under Section 110 of the Customs Act, 1962. The live animals were deported to their country of origin, while proper sanitary measures were taken for the disposal of the deceased animals.
Further investigations into this wildlife smuggling case are ongoing.