The Chennai Customs officers on Sunday during the checking seized five exotic animals smuggled from Bangkok in check-in baggage. The exotic animals – common dwarf mongoose and common spotted cuscus were concealed in bags.
Customs officials seized the animals from a passenger who arrived from Bangkok, and deported them to Thailand. The passenger who had brought the animals has been arrested.
The common dwarf mongoose that had been smuggled is a mongoose species native to Angola, northern Namibia, KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa, Zambia and East Africa. It has soft fur ranging from yellowish red to very dark brown, a large pointed head, small ears, a long tail, short limbs, and long claws.
The common spotted cuscus, also known as the white cuscus that had been smuggled is a cuscus that lives in the Cape York region of Australia, New Guinea, and nearby smaller islands. It is about the size of a common house cat and has a round head, small hidden ears, thick fur, and a prehensile tail to aid in climbing. Its eyes range in colour from yellows and oranges to reds, and are slit much like a snake’s.
