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World Pangolin Day: India tops seizure incidents’ list

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Between 2015-2021, India topped the list of seizures with 287 incidents, while Mainland China topped the list of seizures by volume (93,500 kgs) and individuals (5,600) of the threatened pangolins, the most trafficked wild mammal in the world.

There are eight species of pangolins found in two continents, four each in Africa and Asia and they range from ‘Vulnerable’ to ‘Critically Endangered’. Pangolins are in demand mostly for medicinal use.

On World Pangolin Day on Saturday, wildlife organisation ‘Traffic’ that works to help study, monitor, and influence action to curb illegal wildlife trade, has compiled data that shows over 1,141 confiscations involving both African and Asian pangolin species, have taken place in Asia from 2015-2021.

As many as 21,857 whole pangolins were seized, dead or alive; 3,33,515 kgs of whole pangolins or parts were seized, the data showed. Of these, 78 per cent seizures were pangolin scales.

A whopping 82 per cent seizures were made in Asia with maximum incidents recorded in India (287) followed by Vietnam (242), Mainland China (239), Indonesia (117) and Malaysia (56). In volume terms, as high as 91 per cent of the total volume was seized by Asian countries again, with 93,500 kg from Mainland China, followed by 70,300 kg in Vietnam, 56,800 kg in Hong Kong SAR, 54,400 kg in Malaysia and 29,100 kg in Singapore.

Of the total number of individual pangolins seized, 84 per cent were confiscated by Mainland China (5,600) leading the list followed by Taiwan (4,000), Vietnam (3,600), Indonesia (2,900) and Malaysia (2,200), the Traffic data showed.

Traffic released a poster on Saturday to mark the World Pangolin Day for spreading awareness on the issue. It draws attention that the period 2017-2019 saw some of the largest confiscations, mostly involving African pangolin scales. These two years saw over 609 seizure incidents in Asia, accounting for 244,600 kg scales and 10,971 individuals.

Pangolin confiscations from 2020-2021, however, showed a dip from previous years with some 233 incidents involving 13,389 kg of scales and 247 individuals.

“This is likely an impact from disruption in movement of products through the global transportation system from the Covid-19 pandemic rather than an actual reduction in poaching levels,” Traffic officials said adding: “These numbers should be treated with caution, as they are likely transient and as the world resumes its operations, trafficking levels (and their potential detection) are likely to pick up.”

Talking about making efforts to end poaching, Saket Badola of Traffic India, said: “Continued closer scrutiny on poaching, trafficking and illegal trade, as well as dedicated efforts to end these threats are paramount for the survival of all pangolins.”

Crime

Mira-Bhayandar: Police Busts Illicit Liquor Brewing Den In Nallasopara

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Mira Bhayandar: Further tightening their screws against illicit liquor mafia ahead of the assembly elections scheduled to be held on 20, November, the Mira Road-based central crime branch unit attached to the Mira Bhayandar-Vasai (MBVV) police busted yet another massive illicit liquor brewing unit which was operating from a hillock in a dense jungle area in Nallasopara on Thursday.

Acting on a tip-off, a team led by assistant police inspector- Dattatray Sarak marched 2-kilometre-deep inside the jungle area located in the Dhaniv Baug area of Nallasopara (east) at around 8 am.

The team seized multiple barrels of hooch along with ingredients including 2,800 litres of fermented jaggery wash, 140 litres of liquor, chemicals and other manufacturing equipment collectively worth more than Rs. 1.42 lakh.

However, the den operator identified as- Prabhakar Bhoye and his employees managed to evade the police dragnet. The entire material and equipment were destroyed on the spot.

An offence under the relevant sections of the Maharashtra Prohibition Act-1949 for construction/works of any distillery or brewery and manufacturing intoxicants has been registered in this context at the Pelhar police station.

The consumption of illicit liquor which is unscientifically manufactured by using toxic chemicals like methanol and rectified spirit can cause deaths and other serious ailments including loss of eyesight. Further investigations were underway.

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Crime

Wildlife Smuggling Racket Busted: Rare Snakes, Reptiles, Caged Orangutan Rescued From Dombivli House

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Thane: In a significant operation exposing a wildlife smuggling racket, the Forest Officials rescued rare species of animals from a highrise in Dombivli. The officials raided an apartment in Palava City, Dombivli and found exotic animals including lizard, turtles, rare species snakes and other reptiles stored in the flat. Horrifying enough, the team found a monkey caged in the washroom of the apartment.

It was later confirmed that the rescued animals included Ignuana (lizard), an Orangutan and python. The operation was conducted by the Forest Range Officers from Thane and Kalyan along with a team from Manpada Police Station after a tip.

The officials did not find any accused present in the apartment at the time of the raid. A case under the Wildlife Protection Act 1972 has been registered and a search for the accused is underway. Meanwhile, the seized species are handed over to a local NGO on a temporary basis for observation.

The video of the forest officials raid surfaced on the internet shows a boy opening the door of the well-kept apartment. After entering the flat, the officials gradually come across wildlife species stores in small cage, plastic boxes piled up in the passage and shocking enough an Orangutan in washroom at the end of the apartment.

As per the statement issued by the police, the teams raided the 8th floor apartment in B wing of Savarna Building in Palava City, Dombivli. In the action, the exotic animals seized as prima facie identified as python, ignuana (lizard), turtle, snake etc. The seized wildlife species, on temporary basis, are handed over to Birsa Munda- a local NGO. The pachanama, documentation and search for the accused is underway, it added.

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Crime

Mumbai: Unidentified Body Of Man Chopped Into 7 Pieces Stuffed In Plastic Boxes Found Near Gorai Beach; Probe On

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Mumbai: The dismembered body of a man, estimated to be between 25 and 40 years old, was discovered in several plastic boxes on the side road which goes to Gorai Beach in Mumbai on Sunday.

Upon receiving the information, police arrived at the scene and took the body into custody. It was later sent for a post-mortem examination. The body has not yet been identified, and a case has been registered.

According to police, on Sunday, a male body was found near Picxy Hotel, Babar Pada, Gorai, Borivali West. The body was cut into seven parts and packed in four plastic boxes. The deceased, believed to be between 25 and 40 years old, was wearing dark blue jeans and black shoes. His right hand bore tattoos.

A resident named Santosh Shinde, 55, from Mira Road, informed the Gorai police after learning about the incident. The Gorai police recovered the body from Shefali village in the Babarpada area.

A forensic team is currently investigating the case, and inquiries are ongoing in the vicinity of the incident location. Police have stated that the recovered body remains unidentified. The Gorai police have registered a case, and further investigation is underway.

A special team has been formed to investigate, and information is being gathered from CCTV footage and nearby police stations to assist in identifying the body.

A police officer said that the body was sent to Bhagwati Hospital for a post-mortem. “We can’t conclude anything immediately, as we are still investigating the matter,” the officer said.

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