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SAWEN, South Asia Wildlife Enforcement Network

News & updates

Current work, shared clearly.

Official SAWEN updates and clearly attributed wildlife crime reporting from external publishers.

Wildlife Crime News

270 freshwater turtles rescued, three detained

India: Police found over 270 freshwater turtles from a car of a villager at Noapara in Barasat on Saturday. Acting on a tip-off, the officers of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) rushed to the spot where the empty car was standing. The officers found 270 freshwater turtles which were kept in some jute-made…

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Wildlife Crime News

SSB seizes wildlife products, arrests one

India: The Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) on Saturday said it arrested a smuggler from West Bengal’s Alipurduar district and seized a consignment of wildlife products from his possession. One 540-gm rhino horn and a Tokay Gecko lizard, were seized in a joint operation conducted on Friday by SSB’s 53 Battalion troopers and…

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Image accompanying 2 arrested for smuggling leopard hides in Capital
Wildlife Crime News

2 arrested for smuggling leopard hides in Capital

Nepal: Police have arrested two persons in possession of leopard hides from Gongabu of Tokha Municipality-9 in Kathmandu on Tuesday. Acting on a tip-off, a team deployed from the Teku-based Metropolitan Crime Division raided a guest house in Gongabu and arrested Jagat Kumar Rai (25) and Deepak Rai (18) of Okhaldhunga…

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Wildlife Crime News

190 live turtles seized, 1 held

India Police seized 190 live Indian Tent turtles and Indian Roof turtles and arrested one person in connection with the incident on Monday. According to police, they were allegedly being smuggled to Rajasthan, Nepal and Haryana to be sold at higher prices. One person, identified as Keshav Prasad, has been arrested in…

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Wildlife Crime News

Rhino poacher held with ammunitions

India: A notorious rhino poacher was apprehended and five rounds of ammunition recovered from his possession in Jorhat city in upper Assam during a joint operation by Kaziranga National Park Special Task Force and Police, police said here today. KNP Task Force received specific information about the poacher’s…

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Wildlife Crime News

200 kg sea cucumbers seized; one held

India: The Marine Police of the Coastal Security Group (SCG) have seized about 200 kg of endangered sea cucumbers, protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, and detained a man, who was transporting the marine species at Devipattinam. Acting on a tip-off, a special team, led by Inspector A.…

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Wildlife Crime News

Temple priest detained for online trading of animal parts

India: A temple priest here was arrested by a team of officials led by Delhi-based Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) in connection with online trading of wild animal parts and preparing medicines from them. The priest identified as Lokesh Jagirdar used to prepare drugs (traditional medicine) and talismans from…

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Image accompanying 376 turtles seized in Chitrakonda, three held
Wildlife Crime News

376 turtles seized in Chitrakonda, three held

India: Chitrakonda Forest Range Officials seized 376 Indian softshell turtles at Chitrakonda, 60 km from here, and arrested three smugglers on Friday. Of the seized turtles, 270 were alive. Acting on a tip-off that turtles were being transported from Pithapuram in Andhra Pradesh to Malkangiri, forest officials laid a…

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Image accompanying Two arrested for smuggling 2,089 star tortoises from India
Wildlife Crime News

Two arrested for smuggling 2,089 star tortoises from India

Sri Lanka: Two suspects had been arrested by the Navy, when they attempted to smuggle in 2,089 living star tortoises by a dinghy, in the seas off Kalpitiya yesterday, the Navy said The suspects were smuggling these rare species of tortoises by illegal means from India, the Navy said. They said suspects were arrested…

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