Monkeys, pythons, a fennec… An Indian was arrested at Bangkok International Airport as he was about to board a flight with 17 live animals in his suitcases, Thai wildlife protection officials said on Wednesday.
The kingdom is a notorious hub for wildlife trafficking, usually to major markets like Vietnam or China, where they are used in traditional medicine.
Transported in plastic baskets.
The wildlife protection service discovered eight marmosets, a fennec, a raccoon, three iguanas, two monitor lizards and two white pythons Tuesday night, in plastic baskets hidden behind food, during a control of X-ray bags.
“Authorities have arrested a man who was trying to smuggle animals into India,” Division Chief Prasert Sonsatapornkul said.
Abilash Annaduri, 21, was due to fly from Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport to Chennai in eastern India. He was arrested by the police who accused him of wildlife trafficking. Authorities have estimated the market value of these animals, some of which do not live in the wild in Thailand, at around $2,700.
“We don’t know where they come from”
“We haven’t found microchips in these animals, so we don’t know where they came from,” said Prasert Sonsatapornkul, who noted an increase in cases of trafficking to India. The animals found were sent to veterinarians to be examined.
In late June, two Indian women were arrested at Suvarnabhumi airport when they wanted to fly to Chennai with more than 100 live animals in their luggage, including 35 tortoises and 50 chameleons.
Source: BFM TV
