Leopard cub smuggled from Thailand seized at city airport

The one-month old cub was handed over to the Forest Department personnel. Wildlife crime bureau officials have suggested that the cub be deported, but local foresters want to quarantine the dehydrated cub at Vandalur zoo, so that Moideen can be tried under the Wildlife Protection Act.

Based on specific intelligence that prohibited wild animals are likely to be smuggled from Thailand, officers of the air intelligence unit maintained tight vigil. Moideen seemed suspicious from the beginning and gave evasive replies when asked about trilling sounds emanating from his baggage. 

Upon search and inspection, the cub was rescued, a statement from the customs air intelligence unit said. The passenger arrived from Bangkok through Thai Airways flight on Saturday morning. Wildlife crime control bureau has been asked to cooperate for further identification and examination, the statement said.

“In general, the leopard is a protected animal under schedule 1 of Indian Wildlife Protection Act, but this animal is a foreign property. It will be disclosed as court property under the Customs Act 1972 and then by explaining the CITES (Convention on International Trade in endangered species) recommendations the case will be dealt with,” a government pleader said. The provisions to prosecute those into wildlife trade involving foreign animals, however, is limited.

“The animal was in a state of shock and was making trill sounds and appeared to be weak. The Customs officers fed the cub milk in a feeding bottle. It will be quarantined for two weeks at Vandalur zoo. After faecal and blood tests, the zoo is likely to adopt the female cub,” a forest official said.

“There have been cases of cobra, python, scorpion and marmoset being smuggled in the past from different Asian and African countries, but a leopard from Thailand is the first such incident. This leaves policy makers to work more on international wildlife crime scenario,” the official added.

Ornamental fish, star tortoise and exotic birds are regularly seized at Chennai airport. According to Traffic India, wildlife investigation agency, Chennai is a transit point for the international illegal wildlife trade.