At Bengaluru airport, 72 exotic snakes and 6 capuchin monkeys were taken
On Wednesday, customs officers at Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport in Karnataka’s Bengaluru reportedly captured six capuchin monkeys, 17 king cobras, and 55 ball pythons.
They said that the monkeys were discovered to be dead, but the pythons and cobras were still alive.
The animals came on an Air Asia aircraft from Bangkok (aircraft Number FD 137), which landed at Bengaluru airport at 10:30 pm on Wednesday, and were reportedly placed in luggage.
“A total of 78 creatures were discovered in the luggage that landed on Flight No. FD 137 Air Asia from Bangkok at 10:30 p.m., including 55 Ball Pythons (in various color morphs) and 17 King Cobras. These were discovered to be in a living, functional state. Six (06) Capuchin monkeys, however, were discovered to be deceased, according to a Bengaluru Customs press release.
According to the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972’s Schedule creatures and CITES Appendices, the aforementioned 78 creatures are all Schedule animals.
The animals were taken under the authority of Section 110 of the 1962 Customs Act. The statement said that the deceased animals had been properly disposed of while the living animals had been returned to their countries of origin.
Further research is now being conducted.
