Exotic Indonesian wildlife rescued in Assam, two smugglers arrested

SILCHAR: In a significant operation, the police in Assam’s Hailakandi district, near the Mizoram border, rescued 48 Indonesian birds and animals from smugglers on Friday morning. The rescued species included Black Lory, Red & Blue Lory, Babirusa swine, and Hornbills.

The operation was carried out in the Bilaipur area based on specific information, according to Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Shamirdapar Baruah. Among the rescued creatures, there were 40 Red & Blue Lory birds, 5 Black Lory, 2 Hornbills, and one Babirusa.

The creatures are suspected to be of Indonesian origin, pending confirmation by experts. Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Akhil Dutta stated that most of these creatures are native to Indonesia, suggesting a smuggling route through Myanmar into India from Mizoram.

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The rescued species will be temporarily housed in a safe place before being transferred to Assam Zoo in Guwahati. Dutta also mentioned the possibility of an international smuggling racket and assured a joint investigation by the forest department and police authorities.

Two smugglers, Moinuddin Ali and Samsul Haque from Assam’s Hojai area, were arrested in connection with the case. They confessed to receiving the consignment in Mizoram and intending to sell the creatures in West Bengal. The Bilaipur Police Station officials registered a case against them and await further instructions from the forest department.

Exotic birds like Black Lory and Red & Blue Lory command high prices in some parts of India and Middle Eastern countries, according to forest department experts. This incident has shed light on the urgent need for stricter wildlife protection measures and international cooperation to curb wildlife smuggling.