Tamil actor held while smuggling wild animals

The WCCB and PFA team caught red-handed two persons —one of them a Tamil actor— for illegal possession and sale of endangered live reptiles, reports HT Correspondent.

Crocodiles will give witness in court.

HT Image

Yes, you read it right. Two baby crocodiles, along with four snakes, will be produced in a court on Wednesday as part of evidence in a case of trade in wildlife after the reptiles were rescued on Tuesday.

The schedule I listed endangered animals—two baby crocodiles, a cobra and three vine snakes—were rescued by a joint team of Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) and an NGO People For Animal, from Nizamuddin Railway Station on Tuesday.

The WCCB and PFA team caught red-handed two persons —one of them a Tamil actor— for illegal possession and sale of endangered live reptiles.

“The duo had gone to the station to deliver the consignment to international buyers,” said a senior WCCB official.

After the arrest of the actor—C Manoharan—and his accomplice N T Srinivasulu, the reptiles were sent to a facility run by another NGO Wildlife SOS, PFA sources said.

“All animals will be produced in the court tomorrow as part of evidence,” said Kartick Satyanarayan of Wildlife SOS.

“The accused told us, they had brought the two crocodile babies from adivasis in Hogenackal in Tamil Nadu for Rs 5,000,” he said.

If found guilty, the two can face fine of Rs 25,000 per animal and a jail term up to three years, officials said.