Getty Images/Andrew Brookes
Indian authorities arrested a Canadian man at New Delhi’s airport after he tried to bring a crocodile skull on his flight.
Delhi Customs stopped the 32-year-old at security check-in at Indira Gandhi International Airport before his flight to Canada on Jan. 6. Authorities initially found the man, whose identity has not been disclosed, carrying “a skull with sharp teeth,” per PEOPLE.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter, Delhi Customs shared that the item resembled the jaw of a baby crocodile. CNN reports the Department of Forests and Wildlife conducted a forensic examination of the skull and confirmed it was a baby crocodile. The animal is a protected species under the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972. The organization determined this by examining the crocodile skull’s texture, tooth pattern, bony palate, and shape of it’s nostrils.
Subsequently, authorities arrested the man for illegally possessing the skull. In addition to, trying to export a protected wildlife item, and breaking the Customs Act of 1962. Furthermore, the department of Forests and Wildlife took possession of the crocodile head for laboratory testing.
This case highlights a serious violation of wildlife and customs laws, Delhi Customs wrote. Collaboration between Customs and Forest Departments is crucial to ensuring such protected wildlife items are not smuggled.
Delhi Customs has started a further investigation into the incident. Atul Bagai, the former Head of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in India, told CNN that India often faces wildlife trafficking, making the man’s capture a significant success.
India is among the top ten countries in terms of using the airline sector for wildlife trafficking. This is an unwanted accolade,” Bagai explained.
CNN shares that this isn’t the first time someone has tried to smuggle animals or animal parts through the airports in India. Between 2011 and 2020, airports saw 141 wildlife seizure incidents, involving 146 different animal species. Reptiles were among the most commonly found, making up 46% of the seizures, which included crocodiles, lizards, snakes, and tortoises.
