Kuala Lumpur, El Sky News — Indian Customs officers have foiled an attempt to smuggle ten Bali Starlings an endangered and protected species from Malaysia into India through Chennai International Airport.
According to a report by the Times of India, the rare birds were discovered hidden inside plastic containers packed within a passenger’s luggage arriving from Kuala Lumpur. The birds were found in weak condition, with no official export permits or CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) documentation.
Customs officials confirmed that the birds have been handed over to the Tamil Nadu Forest Department for medical care and rehabilitation before being transferred to a wildlife conservation facility.
Preliminary investigations revealed that Malaysia was being used as a transit hub by an international wildlife smuggling syndicate, which traffics exotic species from Southeast Asia to other regions, including India and the Middle East.
Authorities in India are reportedly working closely with Malaysia’s Department of Wildlife and National Parks (PERHILITAN) and the Malaysian Quarantine and Inspection Services Department (MAQIS) to trace the origins of the network and identify possible local collaborators.
The Bali Starling (Leucopsar rothschildi), also known as the Bali Myna, is an endemic species native to Indonesia and is listed as Critically Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Fewer than 300 individuals are estimated to remain in the wild, making it one of the rarest bird species in the world.
This incident once again highlights the growing concern over illegal wildlife trafficking across Southeast Asia, where traffickers exploit air and sea routes for profit. Authorities have urged the public to refrain from purchasing or trading exotic animals without permits, warning that such actions contribute to biodiversity loss and carry severe legal consequences under international and domestic laws
