44 exotic animals rescued in separate cases at Hyderabad Airport

The customs officials at Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA) intercepted two separate wildlife smuggling attempts uncovering a total of 44 exotic animals illegally brought in from Bangkok.

On November 14, a passenger arriving at Hyderabad Airport from Bangkok via Indigo Airlines was intercepted based on profiling. Upon inspecting the passenger’s



baggage, officials discovered three live exotic animals concealed inside. The wildlife crime control bureau identified them as two common spotted Cuscus and one eastern common Cuscus.

Both species are protected under Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) and listed under Schedule IV of India’s Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.