Kolkata: A little over four months after two critically endangered primates — red-shanked douc — were seized at Kolkata airport, two tree-dwelling, nocturnal marsupials, native to the Australasia region, were seized at the airport on Saturday morning. Although they looked like slow lorises, they were later identified as cuscuses, native to Australia, New Guinea, and nearby islands.The seizure comes only a couple of days after two persons were held at Mumbai airport while trying to smuggle 120 exotic animals, including a Waigeou cuscus.While sources said the seizure, the first for such a species in Kolkata, was conducted by Customs, the agency officials couldn’t be reached for a comment.According to sources, a youth from Kamarhati, probably the carrier, was detained at the airport after his arrival from Bangkok on a Thai Airways flight.Jimlee Sarmah, joint commissioner of the ministry of fisheries, animal husbandry and dairying, animal quarantine and certification services, said that an order was issued so that they could be deported on the same flight to their country of origin. As per initial identification, they could either be Waigeou cuscus or a common spotted cuscus.The former is endemic to Waigeo Island of Indonesia. Due to their small range, they are considered ‘threatened’ on the IUCN Red List. On the other hand, the common spotted cuscus or white cuscus is found in Australia, New Guinea, and nearby islands.They are slow-moving animals often found foraging on leaves, plants, and sometimes even catching birds and lizards. They are known for their long fur and large eyes.
