Four exotic animals, smuggled from Bangkok, Thailand, through checked-in luggage, were seized by customs officials in Chennai on Sunday. Reportedly, the dusky leaf monkeys were found dead upon arrival, while the pygmy marmosets were sent back to Bangkok. The exotic animals were seized under the Customs Act, 1962 read with Wildlife Protection Act 1972.
“Based on intel, on 27.11.22 a pax arriving from Bangkok was intercepted by Customs and on examination of his checked-in baggage, 2 Pygmy Marmoset & 2 dusky leaf monkeys (dead) were found and seized under CA,1962 read with Wildlife act,1972. Further investigation is under progress”, the Chennai Customs tweeted. Details about the accused are yet to be known.
Pygmy Marmosets live in the Amazon region of Brazil, Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, and northern Bolivia. They make their home and live in forest trees or bamboo thickets near or alongside rivers and floodplains, and are of orange-brown colour.
The dusky leaf monkey is in dark grey colour with white coloured patches, surrounding its eyes. This colour pattern is supplemented by a light head crown and a creamy white stomach patch. The dusky leaf monkeys are known to live up to 25 years in captivity.
Earlier in August, customs officials at the airport had intercepted a male passenger carrying species of rare animals.
The passenger had arrived from Bangkok. Post examinations, the officials recovered one DeBrazza Monkey, fifteen KingSnakes, five Ball Pythons, and two Aldabra Tortoises from the checked-in baggage
