Wildlife smuggling busted along Assam-Mizoram border at Dholakhal, Six exotic birds rescued by Police

In a significant breakthrough, law enforcement personnel at the Dholakhal Border Out Post, situated along the Assam-Mizoram border in Dholai constituency, attempted to intercept a group of individuals engaged in suspected wildlife smuggling at around 4 am this morning. The vigilant police jawans observed several people carrying suspicious items while patrolling and swiftly approached them. The suspects, upon realising they were being pursued, fled the scene, leaving behind three cages containing six birds inside them.

Upon closer inspection, it was confirmed that the rescued birds were indeed Black Palm cockatoos, a captivating exotic parrot species native to Papua New Guinea, Indonesia and Australia. Assam Police Battalion promptly conveyed the information to Dholai Police, who arrived at the site and took custody of the caged birds. The rescued cockatoos were later handed over to the Dholai Forest Department for primary treatment and it has been decided that they would be transferred to Guwahati Zoo afterwards.

Cachar Superintendent of Police, Numal Mahatta, alongwith Additional Superintendent of Police Subrata Sen, visited the Dholai Police Station to oversee the matter. While speaking to reporters, the Additional SP revealed that the international market price of each Palm cockatoo is around Rs. 18-20 lakhs which makes the combined market price of the six rescued cockatoos as more than 1 crore rupees. It’s expensive because Palm cockatoos are very hard to breed and thus the demand is much higher.

This incident sheds light on the escalating issue of wildlife smuggling in the region, with various exotic animals, including orangutans, chimpanzees, and kangaroos, being recently seized from smugglers along the Assam-Mizoram border. Additional SP Subrata Sen, in conversation with reporters narrated anecdotes of exotic animals being trafficked not only to neighboring states but also to Middle Eastern countries, where they are kept in private zoos.

The rampant growth of wildlife smuggling has propelled it to the rank of the fourth-largest criminal enterprise globally, trailing only behind drug, firearm and human trafficking. Items coveted by these illicit trades encompass a range of products, from ivory and bushmeat to traditional medicines and exotic pets. Notably, China and the United States stand out as the primary consumers in the illegal wildlife trade.

The palm cockatoo (Probosciger aterrimus), also known as the goliath cockatoo or great black cockatoo is a large smoky-grey or black parrot of the cockatoo family native to the rainforests and woodlands of New Guinea and Cape York Peninsula, Queensland, Australia as well as found near Sorong, West Papua, Indonesia where it is sometimes seen in trees along the roads. It has a very large black beak and prominent red cheek patches.

The palm cockatoo is a member of the white cockatoo subfamily Cacatuinae. Genetic studies found it to be the earliest offshoot from the ancestors of what have become the cockatoo family. The vocalisations of palm cockatoos are similar to those of most wild parrots, but they have also been shown to produce a variety of additional syllables. These additional syllables are mainly produced by males and are often combined to form long, complex sequences. In a population in the Iron Range, 30 different syllables were distinguished. The palm cockatoos from the east have different call types from the ones from other areas due to their long term isolation. It can mimic human voice and can communicate in words if trained.

Anecdotal evidence indicates a palm cockatoo reaching 80 or 90 years of age in an Australian zoo, although the oldest confirmed individual was aged 56 at the London Zoo in the year 2000. Although longevity of captive birds is known, the lifespan of palm cockatoos that live in the wild is still unknown. This species is in high demand for the pet trade due to its unusual appearance.

Parthankar Choudhury, the Dean and former Head of the Department of Ecology and Environmental Science at Assam University, expressed his deep concern over the incident and questioned the effectiveness of existing measures leading to recurring occurrence of such cases.

Mr. Choudhury lamented the frequent sightings of exotic animals and birds along the interstate border areas of Cachar, indicating potential lapses in monitoring and law enforcement. He emphasised the need for a comprehensive approach to prevent the illegal transportation of wildlife and hold those responsible accountable. Drawing a contrast with the successful apprehension of individuals involved in the smuggling of Burmese beetle nuts, Mr. Choudhury raised the crucial question of why individuals involved in smuggling exotic animals often manage to evade capture.

“The repeated nature of such incidents raises questions about the commitment of the concerned departments to apprehend those responsible,” said Choudhury. He expressed concerns about the potential risks associated with the viral or bacterial infections which can be passed through the introduction of these exotic cockatoos at Guwahati Zoo and called for thorough examination and testing to ensure the safety of the environment and public health.