Rare bali Myna Birds โฃSmuggled in Luggage,Indianโฃ authoritiesโค Say
New โฃDelhi,India – A passenger arriving โขat Indira Gandhi International Airport inโค Delhi was detained after customsโ officials โdiscovered a disturbing hidden cargo: a โคcollection of critically endangered Bali myna birds concealed within their luggage. The seizure highlights the ongoing โคthreat ofโ wildlife trafficking and the lengths toโ which smugglers will โgo โto profit โfrom the illegal trade.
Authorities โขinterceptedโฃ the passenger on February 29, 2024, finding a total of 24 Bali mynas hidden in specially constructed โcompartments within the luggage.โ Theโฃ birds, native to the Indonesian island of โBali, are listed as critically endangered by the international Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), with fewer than 150 mature individuals remaining in the wild.The smuggling attempt represents a significant blow to conservation efforts.
“The illegal trade of wildlife poses a severe threat to biodiversity and โecosystem health,” stated a spokesperson for Indian Customs.โค “We are committed to strengthening surveillance andโ enforcement to โcombat this crime.”
The Bali myna population has beenโ decimated by poaching and habitatโฃ loss. Removing even โa small number from its home โฃrange disrupts breeding programs and recovery effortsโข – and it fuels a black market that directly undermines global conservation work.
Indian authorities have increased surveillance at major โports of entry, โขand agenciesโค across Southeast Asia continue working โคtogether to curb โtransnational wildlife crime. CITES enforcement, international intelligence-sharing, โand โฃstricter penalties all play a role in โขreducing demand and disruptingโข smuggling operations.
The passenger is โคcurrently โคbeing questioned, and an inquiry isโ underwayโฃ to determine the origin of the birds and the โคintended destination. โฃ The seized Bali mynas have been handed over to โฃthe Wildlife Crimeโค Controlโข Bureau for care and potential repatriation.
People can help byโฃ refusing to purchase exotic pets, supporting accredited conservationโ programs, andโ spreading awareness โabout how wildlife trafficking harms communities and ecosystems. โคIt’s also vital toโข take local action โ if you suspect someone of smuggling by reporting yourโ suspicions to local authorities.
As global biodiversity faces mounting pressure, stories likeโ this highlight the urgent โขneed to protect wildlife before more species disappear forever.
