Customs officials seize live corals smuggled in from Dubai

The curator Pulkesh Kadam and his team stayed up all night and took good care of the coral. Representation pic

Timely efforts by the Pune Customs Department along with the Fisheries Department of Maharashtra have helped in saving the life of live corals smuggled in from Dubai. Atul Patne, commissioner, department of fisheries told mid-day that on April 5 the customs department had seized live corals smuggled in from Dubai.

"The Pune customs did a very good job but they were not aware where to keep the corals. Dhruv Sheshadri, joint commissioner from the Customs Department contacted me as he thought that the Fisheries Department would have a proper facility at the Taraporewala Fisheries Museum in Mumbai. We wanted to save the corals, so without wasting any time we made arrangements immediately at night," said Patne.

Following the instructions from Patne, the curator Pulkesh Kadam and his team stayed up all night and took good care of the coral. "The corals have survived and are responding well. I would like to congratulate the officers of the customs department and the officials of Taraporewala Aquarium, Fisheries Department for their efforts," Patne added.