The Mumbai Customs, in the early hours of Tuesday, apprehended a woman from Chennai who was attempting to illegally transport two wild primate species. Adv Pawan Sharma, founder and president of RAWW (Resqink Association for Wildlife Welfare), said, “The woman was intercepted at the Mumbai International Airport by the Customs while attempting to traffic a male and female white-cheeked gibbon early on Tuesday morning. The primates were kept inside a basket hidden inside the luggage in very suffocating conditions.”

The animals are currently under medical treatment and care of a wildlife expert team of rescuers and vets from RAWW, for a temporary period. “The animals will be deported as per provisions of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, which protects them in Schedule IV of the Act, and as per provisions of the CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species),” Sharma said.