Global News - April 2008

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Indian officials seize rare animal hides on government plane

Thu 10 April 2008 13:45 UK — Asia,Equines

Custom officials in India found hundreds of hides of rare wild animals when they searched a cargo aircraft of the Indian Postal department.

The Asian News International (ANI) agency reported that the officials found the animal hides on a plane which was travelling from Imphal to Kolkata.

It is thought that the hides came from rare and endangered animals, such as bison, deer and wild buffaloes.

The deputy commissioner of the customs department, Sucheta Sreejesh, said that it was believed that the illegal goods had entered the country from Myanmar.

He added that it was suspected that some postal department staff were involved with the gangs who moved the illegal goods across the country.

In March, authorities in India indicated they were keen to protect rare animals from harm.

A wildlife warden signed an order which meant an elephant was set free from the temple which had owned it and had been accused of mistreating the animal.

Alan Knight, chief executive of International Animal Rescue, said: "It's good to hear that this wildlife crime has been uncovered. The next step is to catch the culprits and punish them severely so other wildlife smugglers know that such practices simply won't be tolerated."


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