BSF stumbles on snake smuggling worth USD 70,000

Kolkata, Aug 25 (UNI) The BSF has made a unique seizure of lethal, non-lethal and multi-coloured snakes from Lalgola in Murshidabad district that are valued at USD 70,000 in the international market.

In place of cattle, Sugar or Phensedyl, the BSF troops of BOP Ramnagar stumbled upon a consignment of approximately 700 lethal, non lethal and multi coloured snakes.

These snakes, in 5 boxes, were being carried on head loads from India to Bangladesh. On being challenged the poachers dropped their loads and fled away, an official release said.

In recent years, globally, several instances of smuggling of snakes have come to notice. There is a lucrative black market of exotic wildlife as pets for specialized hobbyists and in the other markets.

The market of such a trade is worth billions of dollars annually and provide margins belived to be greater that the trade in drugs.

According to an organisation called 'TRAFFIC' that works with WWF 'rarity, the novelty factor and unusual colouration make snakes more valuable and desirable and new rarely known species are particularly the must have for the obsessive collection''.

The BSF had also recovered a large consignment of more that 530 birds of different varieties in Barasat area in Pipli BOP.

The BSF has been sensitizing its troops about wildlife trafficking which has yielded good results. The recovery of snakes is perhaps one of the biggest in the world.

IG BSF Shri Somesh Goyal has informed the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and wildlife of West Bengal. A criminal case under the wildlife protection act has also been registered at PS Lalgola, Murshidabad district.

Recently, a wildlife training programme was at Kalyani, Krishnagar and Berhampore for the benefit of the officers and troops of BSF.

UNI BA JYN RN/PB RK2105