138 exotic mammals, reptiles, birds rescued in Mizoram; three arrested | Popgen Tech

The flaming bowerbirds were seized in Mizoram’s Champhai district on the Myanmar border. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangements

On October 15, some government agencies seized 138 exotic wild mammals, reptiles and birds from Champhai district of Mizoram bordering Myanmar.

This is the largest haul of these trafficked animals in the past few years.

An official in the state capital Aizawl said that a joint team of Champhai district police, Excise and Narcotics Department seized the animals from three SUVs intercepted on a highway leading to southern Assam.

“We suspect the animals were smuggled from Myanmar. We have arrested three people who were transporting the animals in constrictor cages,” the official said.

The three, identified as Lalemruata, 38; Tinkhuma, 38; and E. Lalmuanpuia, 29, were interrogated for more information on the exotic animal smuggling network.

A serval cat was seized in Champhai district of Mizoram. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangements

The rescued animals include 55 baby crocodiles, 30 turtles, 22 pythons, 18 Sumatran water monitors, four flame birds endemic to the rainforests of New Guinea, four serval cats from Africa, two marmosets native to South America and an albino wallaby.

The official said: “The animals have been handed over to the Superintendent of Customs Preventive Force in Champhai for further legal action.

This is the second major seizure of exotic animals in the northeast in a month.

In September, 41 exotic wild animals, birds and reptiles were rescued from Myanmar to Mizoram in two vehicles from Rangiya in Assam’s Kamrup district. These animals, which include 19 different types of primates, 18 tortoises and two wallabies, were to be released from a dealer in West Bengal in Siliguri.

Besides exotic animals, Mizoram was a conduit for smuggling drugs, small arms, betel nut and human hair.