A 22-year-old man from Mizoram was arrested in Meghalaya’s West Jaintia Hills district for allegedly trying to smuggle seven endangered hornbill birds, police said on August 9.
Reports said that the person – NK Thangte – was travelling from Mizoram to Guwahati when his vehicle was intercepted on NH-6 in Meghalaya’s West Jaintia Hills district.
Superintendent of police Bikram D Marak said that on searching the vehicle, seven hornbill birds were found in three plastic cages which were covered with cartons on the top.
“These hornbill birds were meant for trafficking as no legal documents could be produced for their transportation,” the police officer said.
During MCP,Special Team Jowai Police intercepted Bolero MZ O1R 0463 on 8.8.22 @9pm at Jowai bypass &rescued 7 nos.of Hornbill birds protected under Schedule-1 of WPA from the veh.@SangmaConrad @LahkmenR @JamesSangma1 @sniawbhadhar@WailadmikiS @lrbishnoiips @MeghalayaPolice pic.twitter.com/vS2a3IlPUL
— West Jaintia Hills Police (@Jowai_Police) August 9, 2022
Subsequently, the man was arrested and the birds were handed over to wildlife officials, police said.
Meghalaya forest minister James Sangma said the rise of wildlife trafficking in the state is a worrying trend, threatening endangered species.
Utterly shocked & saddened by yet another wildlife trafficking case that was busted by Special Team Jowai Police, rescuing 7 Hornbill birds. The rise of wildlife trafficking in Meghalaya is a worrying trend which is threatening endangered species.@Jowai_Police @MeghalayaPolice
— James K Sangma (@JamesSangma1) August 9, 2022
