4 hornbill birds found hidden in luggage rescued at Mumbai airport; 2 passengers held

NEW DELHI: The Air Intelligence Unit of the Customs Department rescued four endangered hornbill birds at the Mumbai airport from two passengers who tried to smuggle the birds into the country by hiding them in luggage, an official said on Tuesday.

The passengers, including a woman, were arrested in connection with this incident. The action against them was taken after the birds were found in their luggage upon their arrival at the international airport from Thailand on Monday afternoon, the customs official said.

"These Mumbai-based passengers - a male and a female - arrived at the airport on an Air India flight from Bangkok. After a search of their luggage, four hornbill birds were found hidden inside," the official stated.

A forest official said the four hornbill birds belonged to the Visayan and Sulawesi species, which are highly endangered. "These hornbills were stuffed in a plastic container kept inside a bag that was full of chocolates," he said. The birds were found to be alive.

After being rescued, they were stabilised, hydrated, and given food in consultation with wildlife experts from the Resqink Association for Wildlife Welfare (RAWW), he added. As these birds are not native to India, they were sent back to Bangkok with due formalities, according to him.

The Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) issued orders for the deportation of the birds back to their country of origin as per the provisions of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, following which the birds were sent back to Bangkok, the forest official said.

As per the provisions of the Act, any exotic animal seized in illegal trafficking needs to be deported back to the country of origin or the country from where it was being trafficked.

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