A traveler was apprehended upon arrival in India with two endangered primates concealed in his luggage. Customs officials at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport discovered two silvery gibbons hidden in a passenger’s bag on October 30. Video footage from the airport showed officials handling one of the two animals, believed to be approximately two and four months old.
Regrettably, one of the gibbons had already perished. An Indian customs official stated, “During inspection, we found two gibbons, one aged around two months and the other about four months, concealed inside a basket within a trolley bag.”
These rare primates, originating from Indonesian forests, are classified as endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List. Initial inquiries by Indian authorities indicate that the traveler, described as a foreign national, had journeyed from Malaysia to Thailand before flying to India.
Authorities suspect that a member of an international smuggling network handed the bag containing the gibbons to the passenger in Thailand, instructing him to deliver it upon reaching India. The syndicate is believed to have organized the passenger’s travel itinerary and logistics.
Efforts are underway to identify other individuals involved in the smuggling scheme. According to the IUCN, recent research indicates a “high likelihood” that the silvery gibbon, scientifically known as Hylobates moloch, could face extinction within a century.
Chester Zoo reports that these apes typically stay with their families for eight years and have a lifespan of around 35 years, which can extend to 50 years under human care.
In a separate incident back in 2022, customs officials in Munich, Germany, were shocked to discover two whole roasted antelopes in a passenger’s baggage. The woman, a Ghanaian national, claimed she needed them as a snack. The animals were found crushed to fit inside the bag, with one antelope’s leg twisted and its head pulled back in grisly images.
The passenger explained that antelopes are considered a delicacy in her country and packed them as a snack for her journey. However, due to animal health regulations, customs officers had to confiscate the antelopes for immediate disposal. Thomas Meister, a spokesperson for Customs Headquarters in Munich, described the seizure as “extraordinary.”
