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Time of India

MPSTF rescues 39 baby ghariyals being transported to B'desh, arrests 3

Bhopal: In a major breakthrough against illegal wildlife trafficking, Madhya Pradesh's Special Tiger Strike Force (STSF) has busted an international smuggling racket and rescued a consignment of endangered aquatic species, including 30 baby gharials, that were allegedly being smuggled to Bangladesh through a cross-border network. Acting on specific information, STSF teams from Bhopal and Shivpuri intercepted a Hyundai car on the Sabalgarh–Morena road near Jora on the evening of July 12. Inside the vehicle, officials discovered 30 baby gharials (Gavialis gangeticus) and 14 red-crowned roofed turtles (Batagur kachuga), all protected under Schedule I of India's Wildlife Protection Act. The reptiles were contained in improvised containers and being transported in violation of national and international wildlife laws. The three occupants of the car were apprehended at the scene. The arrested individuals were identified as Raju Adivasi, son of Jagdish, resident of Mauranipur in Uttar Pradesh; Vijay Gaur, son of Shashikant Gaur, resident of Barrack Quarter in Thatipur, Gwalior; and Ramveer Singh, son of Shiv Singh Baghel, a resident of Surya Vihar Colony, Pintu Park, Gwalior. All three men have previous records of wildlife crimes and are believed to be part of a larger network involving local poachers, transport agents, and international buyers. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like This Could Be the Best Time to Trade Gold in 5 Years IC Markets Learn More Undo Following their interrogation, the STSF conducted a subsequent raid in Gwalior in the early hours of July 13, recovering three additional red-crowned roofed turtles and 19 three-striped roofed turtles (Batagur dhongoka). In total, 66 live animals were seized from the accused in a two-phase operation. A forest crime case (No. 237/20, dated July 12, 2025) was filed by the STSF Shivpuri unit. Local police and the Morena Forest Division assisted in the operation. The accused were presented before the forest court in Shivpuri and have been remanded into custody for further interrogation. Preliminary investigations reveal that the animals were poached from the National Chambal Sanctuary, a protected riverine ecosystem spanning parts of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh. The reptiles were reportedly being smuggled to Bangladesh and distributed further into illegal wildlife markets across Southeast Asia. Officials stated that the rescued species are highly desired in foreign markets, particularly in Europe and parts of Asia, where they are used for the exotic pet trade and traditional medicine. "This case isn't just about one vehicle or three suspects. It is part of a structured, transnational wildlife trafficking network that exploits India's endangered species for profit," said a senior officer involved in the operation. All three rescued species — the gharial, red-crowned roofed turtle, and three-striped roofed turtle — are listed as critically endangered or vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and are protected under both Indian law and the international CITES convention. The rescued animals are currently undergoing medical evaluation and care by wildlife veterinarians.