In brief
Customs officials apprehended a 32-year-old Canadian man at Delhi airport for carrying a baby crocodile skull in his luggage, violating wildlife protection laws. The incident occurred as he prepared to board a flight back to Canada.
On Monday, during a routine security check, customs officials discovered a suspicious item wrapped in cloth. Upon closer inspection, they found the 777g (1.71lb) skull with sharp teeth, which was confirmed by wildlife experts to belong to a baby crocodile, a protected species under India's Wildlife Protection Act. The man claimed he purchased the skull in Thailand and lacked the required permits for transporting wildlife. Despite asserting he did not hunt or harm the crocodile, authorities are continuing their investigation to determine the specifics surrounding the item. A case has been registered and further analysis is underway to pinpoint the skull's exact sub-species.This incident echoes a similar case from last year when a Canadian woman was detained for carrying animal horns in her luggage while traveling from India. Wildlife smuggling remains a significant issue, as traffickers increasingly use deceptive methods, highlighting the ongoing challenges in wildlife protection and customs enforcement in India.
