India: The pair of hoolock gibbons, two palm civets and 42 exotic birds of different species seized from a car on the Basanti Highway on Thursday were allegedly on their way to Mumbai.

The animals were to be delivered to a seller waiting near Science City, who would in turn transport them to Mumbai, said an official of the Department of Revenue Intelligence (DRI).

"People are known to keep such animals as pets and there is a considerable demand for gibbons and birds among private collectors who like to keep them on the sly," the official said. Several farmhouses in Mumbai, Goa and Ooty have been known to have animals, he said.

Ravi Kant Sinha, the principal chief conservator of forests, wildlife, and chief wildlife warden, said the city was a preferred transit point for smuggling of animals because of its close proximity with countries such as Nepal, Myanmar and Bangladesh.

"We have a long and porous border with several countries that makes it easy to smuggle animals both in and out of the country. A lot of animals are transported to China and Myanmar, Thailand and the Gulf countries, where there is a demand both for exotic pets as well as animal parts used in traditional medicines," Sinha told Metro.

The animals that were seized from a Swift Dzire near Bhojerhat had been smuggled in from Bangladesh and are now at the Alipore zoo hospital.

One of the gibbons was malnourished and tired after being cooped up in a cramped cage in the car's boot. The gibbons are being fed apples, bananas and a mix of vitamins.

"We will reduce the dosage of vitamins and supplements when they are stronger. The civets and birds are doing fine," the official said.

The two men arrested for smuggling the animals and birds were produced before a court in Bankshall on Friday and remanded in judicial custody till June 6.

(Source: The Telegraph)