Two men were caught while trying to smuggle 369 star tortoises in their luggage by customs’ air intelligence unit at Chennai airport.
They were identified as Mohammed Shaffiudeen and Shanavaz Munver, who were travelling to Bangkok on an AirAsia flight scheduled to depart at 11.25pm on Thursday.
Officials found the star tortoises on checking cardboard boxes the duo was carrying. Shanthi Pillai, wildlife inspector of Wildlife Crime Control Bureau, said the animals were dehydrated and required immediate medical attention.
The tortoises were first taken to Vandalur for rehabilitation. Based on their condition, they would be released.
In January, about 171 star tortoises being smuggled to Thailand in bags were seized.The accused were booked under Section 113 of the Customs Act and Section 113 of the Wildlife Protection Act.
Prashant E, wildlife warden of Chennai, said this was the fourth case in the last two years. “Forest department has only taken custody of the animals. We haven’t booked any cases as customs will book and remand the offenders,” he said.
Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) southern region deputy director M Kirupa Sankar said that in 2022, over 3,600 live star tortoises were recovered at Chennai airport. The ones arrested were pet shop owners and dealers from Kolathur.
The star tortoises were collected from Madanapalle and Palamner in Chittoor and Anantapur of Andhra Pradesh. From there, they come to Chennai and are sent to southeast Asian countries.