Upon arrival in India, a traveler was apprehended for smuggling two endangered apes concealed in his luggage.
Customs officials at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport discovered two rare silvery gibbons hidden in a passenger’s bag on October 30. Video footage from the airport captures officials inspecting one of the infant animals, estimated to be around two and four months old.
Tragically, one of the gibbons had already perished. An Indian customs official disclosed, “During the search, we found two gibbons – one approximately two months old and the other around four months old – concealed within a basket inside a trolley bag.”
These primates, native to Indonesian forests, are classified as endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List. Initial investigations by Indian authorities indicate that the traveler, described as a foreign national, had journeyed from Malaysia to Thailand before flying to India.
Authorities suspect that an international smuggling network member handed the bag containing the gibbons to the passenger in Thailand, instructing him to deliver it upon reaching India. It is believed that the syndicate orchestrated the passenger’s travel itinerary and logistics.
Efforts are now underway to identify other individuals involved in the smuggling scheme. According to the IUCN, recent studies indicate a “high probability” of the silvery gibbon, scientifically known as Hylobates moloch, facing extinction within a century.
Chester Zoo reports that these apes typically remain with their family for eight years and have a lifespan of around 35 years, extending up to 50 years under human care.
In a separate incident in 2022, customs officials in Munich, Germany, were shocked to discover two whole roasted antelopes in a passenger’s baggage, as she claimed they were for consumption during her journey. The Ghanaian woman had her bag x-rayed at the airport, revealing the animals’ bodies had been mutilated to fit inside. Gruesome images showed one antelope with a crushed leg and twisted head.
The passenger explained that antelopes are considered a delicacy in her country and insisted she packed them as snacks for her trip. However, due to animal health regulations, customs officials were obliged to confiscate the antelopes for immediate disposal. Thomas Meister, a spokesperson for Customs Headquarters in Munich, remarked, “Such a seizure is highly unusual.”
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