The airport officials received a tip-off and searched his luggage, finding four siamangs and two Northern pig tailed macaques inside them.
These Southeast Asian primates, whose conservation statuses are endangered and vulnerable, respectively, were found in cardboard boxes inside two large suitcases, expected to be passed off to Kottesvaran's handler, known as Ansari. The airport officials suspect that these trafficked primates were headed to private zoos in India.
According to the officials, this bust was a violation of India's Wild Life (Protection) Act of 1972, and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) - both stipulations regulating the import and trade of certain wildlife species in India.
Punishable offenses carry an imprisonment term of up to seven years. For one, wildlife trafficking usually targets endangered or rare species-as seen in this case-which removes wildlife from their natural habitats and pushes them closer to extinction.
These Southeast Asian primates, whose conservation statuses are endangered and vulnerable, respectively, were found in cardboard boxes inside two large suitcases, expected to be passed off to Kottesvaran's handler, known as Ansari. The airport officials suspect that these trafficked primates were headed to private zoos in India.
According to the officials, this bust was a violation of India's Wild Life (Protection) Act of 1972, and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) - both stipulations regulating the import and trade of certain wildlife species in India.
Punishable offenses carry an imprisonment term of up to seven years. For one, wildlife trafficking usually targets endangered or rare species-as seen in this case-which removes wildlife from their natural habitats and pushes them closer to extinction.
Biodiversity loss, driven by human actions like the illegal removal of wildlife and habitat destruction, such as deforestation, disrupts food chains and can upset entire ecosystems.
If these wildlife species are successfully brought into a new space, they could still pose a threat to the ecological balance of their new habitat, overtaking the space as an invasive species.
Sadly, many of these trafficked animals do not survive transport because of the horrible conditions they are transported in, such as a case where eastern box turtles were all squished into boxes of almonds and chocolate cookies, and died during transportation.
Wildlife trafficking is on the rise globally. In Latin America reports estimated that there were about 2,200 wildlife seizures and poaching incidents between 2017 and 2024.
Interpol and the World Customs Organization seized nearly 20,000 live animals globally last year.
If these wildlife species are successfully brought into a new space, they could still pose a threat to the ecological balance of their new habitat, overtaking the space as an invasive species.
Sadly, many of these trafficked animals do not survive transport because of the horrible conditions they are transported in, such as a case where eastern box turtles were all squished into boxes of almonds and chocolate cookies, and died during transportation.
Wildlife trafficking is on the rise globally. In Latin America reports estimated that there were about 2,200 wildlife seizures and poaching incidents between 2017 and 2024.
Interpol and the World Customs Organization seized nearly 20,000 live animals globally last year.
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