Kolkata: In one of the largest seizures of animal export from India in recent times, Kolkata Customs has seized nearly 1,100 protected and exotic animals and aquatic species covered under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 and CITES on Friday night. Two passengers travelling to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, were intercepted and the officials found the animals in their luggage.Sources said 825 live Indian tent turtles, 246 dead Indian tent turtles and 100 live Indian star tortoises were concealed in their baggage. Searches in the past few days have already led to the detention of several Kolkata-bound passengers from Bangkok carrying silvery lutung monkey, albino squirrel and ball pythons.“The protected species were being exported without the requisite permissions and documentation. The animals have been handed over to the authorities for safe custody, rehabilitation or further action as required,” an official said.
