Bidar: In a significant operation, officials of the Bidar Forest Department seized a rare red sand boa snake worth lakhs that was being smuggled from Telangana to Maharashtra and arrested three individuals involved in the smuggling on Thursday.
Details of the Seizure
The snake was being transported from Telangana in a car registered in Andhra Pradesh. Acting on authentic information, forest department officials intercepted the vehicle near Chikkapet on the outskirts of Bidar city. They successfully seized the snake and apprehended the accused.
The rare snake, weighing over 5.3 kilograms, is believed to be used for making medicines and for various illegal activities. The exact market value of the snake is estimated to be in lakhs, highlighting the high demand for such reptiles in illicit trade.
Legal Action
A case has been registered under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, for the illegal possession and transportation of a protected species. The three accused include one individual from Telangana and two from Maharashtra. They have been arrested and are currently being interrogated to uncover the larger smuggling network. Additionally, the car used in the crime has been seized as evidence.
Officials Involved in the Raid
The raid was led by Bidar DFO Ashish Reddy, along with ACFO Chandrasekhar Hema, Range Forest Officer Vijayakumar Jadhav, Deputy Range Forest Officer Ravi Roopsingh, and other staff members. Their coordinated efforts led to the successful interception and seizure.
The forest department has urged the public to report any suspicious wildlife-related activities to help protect endangered species and curb illegal wildlife trade.
