A man was apprehended upon arrival in India for smuggling two endangered primates concealed in his luggage. Officials at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport discovered two silvery gibbons, one of which had sadly perished, hidden inside a basket in the passenger’s bag on October 30. The surviving gibbons, believed to be around two and four months old, are native to Indonesian forests and are classified as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
Preliminary investigations indicate that the individual, described as a foreign national, had traveled from Malaysia to Thailand before flying to India. Authorities suspect the involvement of an international smuggling network, which likely orchestrated the transportation of the gibbons and arranged the passenger’s travel itinerary.
Efforts are underway to identify other individuals linked to the smuggling ring. The IUCN warns of a high risk of the silvery gibbon, scientifically known as Hylobates moloch, facing extinction within the next century. In normal circumstances, these primates typically remain with their family for up to eight years and have a lifespan of around 35 years, which can extend to 50 years under human care.
In a separate incident in 2022, customs officials in Munich, Germany, were shocked to find two whole antelopes packed in a passenger’s luggage. The woman, originating from Ghana, claimed the antelopes were intended as snacks for her journey, citing their cultural significance as a delicacy in her home country. However, due to animal health regulations, the antelopes were confiscated for immediate disposal. Thomas Meister, a spokesperson for Customs Headquarters in Munich, described the seizure as highly unusual.