Four siamang gibbons seized from passenger at Chennai airport

CHENNAI: Customs officers at Chennai airport seized four siamang gibbons and 52 green iguanas from a Malaysian woman who arrived from Kuala Lumpur on Sunday.

Based on specific information, customs sleuths subjected passengers of a Malaysian Airlines flight to searches. They intercepted the Malaysian woman on suspicion. Her baggage was thoroughly searched. Customs sleuths found wildlife species hidden in bags with air vents and packed in carton boxes.

On being alerted, Wildlife Crime Control Bureau officials reached the airport and identified the species as siamang gibbons, an endangered species, and green iguanas.

The animals were stabilised and fed before being deported to Malaysia on Monday.
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Customs sleuths managed to arrest a man who came to the airport to receive the exotic species. "He is a driver, who received exotic pets in the past for the traders. He was arrested for the first time now," said a customs officer. Both were remanded in judicial custody, and customs officials will take them into custody for further investigation.

Green iguana

According to wildlife officials, siamang gibbons are friendly animals and not aggressive and are in demand in the illegal pet trade for the same reason. "The species are new to Chennai's pet market. Only with further interrogation will we know the demand for such animals," said a wildlife official.

In August, customs officials seized a gibbon monkey and 22 other species from passengers who arrived from Thailand.