It has been a week of pitfalls for crocodiles, with the latest bait being a 32 year-old Canadian national who attempted to carry a crocodile skull in a flight to the Maple-leaf from Delhi Indira Gandhi International Airport.
Recently taxscan.in reported a near-unbelievable scenario when an Income Tax raid conducted at the house of former BJP MLA Harvansh Singh Rathore in Madhya Pradesh’s Sagar district turned into an animal rescue mission upon the discovery of a croc pond on Rathore’s property.
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Read More: Cash or Crocs: Income Tax Raid on Former MLA’s Property Turns Into Crocodile Rescue Mission
A recent press release and tweet from the official X (formerly Twitter) handle of the Delhi Customs (Airport & General) briefed the scenario when a skull with sharp teeth, resembling the jaw of a baby crocodile, weighing approximately 777 grams and wrapped in a cream-colored cloth was recovered from the outbound Canadian National during a security check at Terminal-3 of the Delhi Airport.
The Department of Forests and Wildlife ( GNCTD ) conducted diagnostic tests and identified the item as the skull of a baby crocodile, based on its texture, tooth pattern, well-developed bony palate, and nostrils. Preliminary findings suggest the skull belongs to a species protected under Schedule-I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 (WLPA). However, the Customs have informed that further scientific analysis by the Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun is necessary to confirm the exact species of the recovered skull.
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The apprehended man was arrested under Section 104 of the Customs Act, 1962 while the skull was handed over to the Department of Forests and Wildlife (West Division, GNCTD) for lab testing while further investigation is underway.
Possession of a crocodile skull constitutes ‘Illegal possession and attempt to export a Schedule-I protected wildlife item’ as per the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 and further violations of Sections 132, 133, 135, 135A, and 136: Offenses related to misdeclaration, illegal export, and smuggling under the Customs Act, 1962.
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