Latest news with #CITES
New Indian Express
11 hours ago
- New Indian Express
Exotic monkeys, tortoises seized at Chennai airport, one held
CHENNAI: The Customs officials of Chennai international airport foiled a bid to smuggle two exotic monkeys and seven tortoises by a passenger who came from Thailand on Wednesday night. An official release said upon checking the checked-in trolley bag of an Indian male passenger, who arrived on the Thai Airways flight, the officials found a two ventilated carry bags and a small cloth bag concealed under layers of confectionery items. On closer inspection, movements were noticed inside the ventilated bags. Further scrutiny revealed two live monkeys of different species - each hidden in a separate carry bags - and seven tortoises wrapped inside the taped cloth bag. The animals were deported to Thailand. Customs said import of such wildlife without valid authorisation is prohibited under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, the Customs Act, 1962, and the CITES regulations governing international trade in endangered species.
Time of India
a day ago
- Time of India
Wildlife smuggling bid foiled at Chennai airport; man arrested
CHENNAI: Customs sleuths at Chennai airport foiled an attempt to smuggle in two monkeys and seven tortoises by an Indian male passenger who arrived from Bangkok on Wednesday. The suspect landed at Chennai airport around 11.55 pm. Customs officers secured him based on intelligence. His checked-in trolley bag was examined, and officers stumbled upon two ventilated carry bags and a small cloth bag concealed beneath layers of confectionery items. On further scrutiny, the officers were shocked to find two live monkeys of different species hidden in the carry bags and seven tortoises tightly wrapped and taped inside the cloth bag. Since import of such wildlife without prior authorisation violates the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, the Customs Act, 1962, and the CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) regulations, the animals were safely deported back to Thailand. The passenger was arrested under relevant provisions of the Customs Act and Wildlife Protection Act. He was remanded in judicial custody.
The Citizen
a day ago
- General
- The Citizen
SA sends 10 critically endangered black rhinos to Mozambique
Ten additional black rhinos have been successfully translocated from South Africa to Zinave National Park in Mozambique to help secure the first founder population of black rhinos since becoming locally extinct 50 years ago. The rhinos, including five males and five females, were donated by South Africa's provincial conservation entity, Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, in collaboration with Mozambique's National Administration for Conservation Areas and Peace Parks Foundation. The translocation was made possible through funding from the United Kingdom's People's Postcode Lottery. By reintroducing wildlife to areas where the species once thrived, biodiversity is restored. The preservation of natural ecosystems is one of the most effective tools in mitigating climate change. Through the creation of ecosystem 'carbon sinks', these ecosystems can increase global carbon uptake by up to 12 times. With 37 rhinos already introduced and thriving, this initiative aims to enhance biodiversity and reinforce the park as Mozambique's only 'big five' national park, setting a new standard for wildlife conservation and ecological restoration. Peace Parks Foundation approached Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife for a donation of black rhinos to boost the numbers to form a viable breeding population of black rhinos in Mozambique. An agreement was reached on the ten rhinos sourced from Ithala Game Reserve and Ezemvelo's three Black Rhino Range Expansion Project. The rhinos were initially relocated to Hluhluwe iMfolozi Park, where they were housed in specially prepared holding facilities in preparation for the 48-hour journey to Zinave. The Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Dr Dion George, described this as a significant conservation success. Goerge commended the Government of Mozambique and its co-management partner, Peace Parks Foundation, on achieving this important milestone, noting that establishing new founder populations is one of many critical interventions to secure the future of these species. 'South Africa's successes in rhino conservation and the implementation of anti-poaching and anti-trafficking efforts have stabilised its rhino populations, thereby placing the country in a position as a source of rhino for range states in Africa which have either lost many or all of their rhino and wish to re-establish populations or augment current populations, as is the case with this translocation. 'The export and import of these valuable black rhinos have been done in compliance with the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora's legislation of both countries,' the Minister said yesterday. To ensure successful translocation and compliance with all the required permits, the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment management inspectors (MIs) and officials from the Border Management Authority played a crucial role during the loading and endorsement of Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) permits at the ports of exit. During the loading this week, the departmental MIs ensured that all the allocated microchip numbers, as prescribed in the CITES permits, correspond with those inserted in the live rhino. The first rhinos were successfully translocated from South Africa to Zinave National Park in 2022, in the longest road transfer of rhinos ever undertaken. This initiative, the result of a partnership between Mozambique's National Administration for Conservation Areas and Peace Parks Foundation, marked the beginning of Mozambique's efforts to rebuild founder white and black rhino populations as part of a national conservation initiative to reintroduce rhinos in the country. In 2023, Peace Parks received a funding award of £800 000 (approximately R18 720 000) raised by players of the UK People's Postcode Lottery towards the translocation of ten more black rhinos to Zinave, which enabled this critical next phase in rhino rewilding. 'Supporting the rewilding of critically endangered species like the black rhino is at the heart of what we believe in – creating lasting impact for people and planet. I am delighted that players of People's Postcode Lottery have been able to support Peace Parks Foundation. 'This historic translocation to Zinave National Park simply wouldn't have happened without player-raised funding. It's a powerful example of what we can achieve when we come together across borders to restore nature and protect our shared future,' MD of UK People's Postcode Lottery, Clara Govier said. – Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel. Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
India Gazette
2 days ago
- India Gazette
DRI seizes leopard skins and bones, arrests one trafficker
New Delhi [India], June 18 (ANI): In a continued effort to combat wildlife crimes, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) executed an operation on June 16, successfully obstructing the trafficking of leopard parts. Acting on credible intelligence, the two suspect persons were intercepted on a highway near Titajuri village on the outskirts of Nagaon, Assam, and two leopard skins and 20 bones of leopard (weighing 2.58 kgs) were recovered from their possession, according to a release. During the chaotic situation, one of the suspects took advantage of the crowd and managed to escape into a nearby forest. The confiscated leopard skins and bones, along with the apprehended individual, were handed over to the Kathiatoli Forest Range for further action. The leopard (Panthera Pardus) is listed in Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, providing the highest level of protection for endangered species. Hunting of leopards, and possession and trading of their parts are illegal. The leopard is also listed in Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES), thereby banning commercial trade of its parts. The battle against poaching, hunting, smuggling, trafficking and illegal trade of protected species of animals and plants is an ongoing effort of the law enforcement agencies. Besides the present seizure, since January 2025, DRI and Customs in the North Eastern Region have also seized one tiger skin and tiger bones weighing 14 kilograms, two elephant tusks, three kilograms of ambergris (vomit of sperm whale), four leopard skins, two otter skins, one skin of bear head, two kilograms of pangolin scales and eight kilograms of leopard bones. These animals are protected under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, making their hunting prohibited and trading and possession of their parts also prohibited. (ANI)
Time of India
6 days ago
- General
- Time of India
Dolphins face survival threat
Patna: Graceful, elusive and nearly blind, the Ganges river dolphin, locally known as "susu", once glided through the murky waters of the Ganga and Brahmaputra with a quiet majesty. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Today, the ripples they leave behind are few and fading. Despite its revered status as India's national aquatic animal, this freshwater sentinel is fighting a losing battle against rising pollution, river traffic and creeping urbanisation. Once abundant in the subcontinent's river systems, the Ganges dolphin (Platanista gangetica gangetica) is now confined to select stretches of rivers in India, Bangladesh and Nepal. The recently concluded first-ever comprehensive river dolphin population survey in India (2021-2023) has revealed an alarming reality – only 6,327 river dolphins remain nationwide. Among them, Uttar Pradesh hosts the highest number at 2,397, followed closely by Bihar with 2,220. This endangered species belongs to an elite and shrinking club of four obligate freshwater dolphins worldwide. The others include the "bhulan" in Pakistan's Indus, the "baiji" of China's Yangtze (declared functionally extinct in 2006) and the "boto" of the Amazon river. In conservation terms, the "susu" is under maximum protection, listed in Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, Appendix I of CITES, and categorised as Endangered by the IUCN Red List. Yet, no law seems sturdy enough to shield it from the escalating dolphin-human conflict. "The Gangetic dolphin is an extremely useful animal for monitoring river quality. These animals act as indicators of a healthy river ecosystem. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Being at the top of the food chain, their thriving presence signals rich biodiversity," said dolphin expert R K Sinha, widely known as the Dolphin Man of India. According to him, the threats are manifold – poaching, accidental killings, demand for dolphin oil and flesh, dam constructions and relentless pollution have all taken a brutal toll on their fragile numbers. These dolphins, which navigate the Ganga using echolocation, are blind in the conventional sense but are highly adapted to their muddy environment. They help maintain ecological balance by regulating fish populations. "Without them, the very rhythm of the Ganga's aquatic life is disrupted," warn scientists. In a bid to turn the tide, the govt established the National Dolphin Research Centre (NDRC) on the banks of the Ganga near Patna's Law College Ghat. Inaugurated a couple of years ago, this one-of-its-kind facility in Asia was envisioned to become a hub of dolphin science and freshwater ecology. Built at an estimated cost of Rs 32 lakh, the NDRC will study dolphin behaviour and habitat and do research on aquatic life like benthic macro-invertebrates, otters, gharials and even migratory birds. "The centre will also take up river hydrology as a key research component," said Dr G B Chand, zoology professor at Patna University and member of the NDRC experts' committee. But for all its noble intentions, the centre's journey has been anything but smooth. "The idea was first proposed in 2011. It hung in limbo for nearly a decade before finally being approved. Even after the CM inaugurated it, progress has been agonisingly slow," said Gopal Sharma, senior scientist with the Zoological Survey of India and interim director of the NDRC. "We have faced delays at every step – funds, infrastructure staffing. It has been rough weather since day one," he added. Still, forest officials remain optimistic. Prabhat Kumar Gupta, principal chief conservator of forests, said the govt was committed to seeing the centre flourish. "The state's environment, forest and climate change department is closely monitoring the NDRC's progress. We are currently assessing the equipment and manpower required. The centre is expected to be fully functional within this financial year," he said. Gupta also highlighted the department's goal to make the NDRC a centre of excellence, not just for research but also for training fishermen on dolphin-friendly practices.
