Kolkata: CBI and the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) Mumbai, supported by Wildlife Crime Control Bureau, jointly raided multiple locations in Maharashtra and Bengal and busted a wildlife smuggling racket and rescued 53 animals and birds.Six alleged key members of the syndicate were arrested and charged under provisions of Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 and criminal conspiracy.Three of them are from Bengal — Saikat Biswas, Mithun Mondal and Arjun Mondal, and three others from Mumbai — Noman Khan, Md Faruq and Insha Shakil.Rescued wildlife include 15 slow loris, two binturongs (also known as bearcats), 28 star tortoises, six Egyptian vultures, and two shikra birds.Investigators alleged the accused had sourced these animals and birds from various parts of India for commercial trading.Ten slow lorises were rescued from Bongaon and six vultures from Ashoknagar. Rescued animals and birds have been sent to Jhargram zoo.All the rescued species are listed under Schedule-I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, granting them the highest legal protection due to their threatened or endangered status.
