Forest Officers on 24×7 Watch at KIA, Wildlife Trafficking to Face Wildlife Act

Bengaluru | Jan 27 : 

In a significant move to combat illegal wildlife trafficking through international air routes, the Karnataka Forest Department has strengthened enforcement at Kempegowda International Airport (KIA), Bengaluru, by deploying dedicated forest officers for airport duty.

Four Deputy Range Forest Officers (Dy RFOs) have been stationed at the international airport after obtaining the necessary clearances from the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS).

The officers will function on a 24×7 basis throughout the year, marking the first such sustained forest enforcement presence at the airport.

Kempegowda International Airport, which falls under the jurisdiction of the Bengaluru Rural Forest Division, is a major international aviation hub and has been identified as a sensitive transit point for the illegal import and export of wild animals and wildlife articles.

Authorities note that wildlife trafficking through airports poses a serious threat to biodiversity and undermines national and international conservation efforts.

The deployment has been carried out in close coordination with the Customs Department, enabling real-time inter-agency cooperation for detection, interception, and investigation of wildlife trafficking cases.

Officials say the continuous presence of Forest Department personnel will significantly enhance joint action during interceptions involving live animals, wildlife derivatives, and related contraband.

Earlier, most cases detected at the airport were registered primarily under the Customs Act, limiting the scope for in-depth investigation.

With forest officers now stationed at KIA, cases can be directly booked under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, allowing authorities to conduct comprehensive investigations, trace forward and backward linkages, dismantle organised trafficking networks, and identify key operators behind such crimes, said a release from office of Dr Santosh, Deputy Conservator of Forests, Bengaluru Rural Division, Devanahalli.

The Forest Department expressed confidence that the strengthened enforcement mechanism will lead to improved detection, more effective investigations, and stronger prosecution of wildlife trafficking cases at the airport.

Officials described the initiative as a crucial step towards safeguarding wildlife, enhancing inter-agency collaboration, and meeting India’s conservation commitments.

Illegal Wildlife Import Cases (Last One Year)

Around 22 cases of illegal import/export of wild animals were booked by the Customs Department in the last one year.

The majority of cases involved South East Asian countries, mainly Thailand and Malaysia.

Key Import Cases Detected

20 January 2025 | Thailand - Black and Red Broadbill

29 January 2025 | Malaysia - Bali myna, Wilson’s Bird of Paradise, Fig parrots, Albino Finlayson’s squirrel

11 February 2025 | Thailand - White-headed marmoset, Corn snake, California king snake

24 March 2025 | Malaysia - Siamang gibbon, Northern pig-tailed macaque

26 March 2025 | Thailand - Red-whiskered bulbul (albino), Albino pygmy dormouse, Sulawesi myna, King bird of paradise

26 March 2025 | Thailand - Black and Red Broadbill

26 March 2025 | Thailand - Sulawesi myna, Iguana, Indo-Chinese turtle

09 April 2025 | Thailand - Douc langur, Writhed hornbill

29 April 2025 | Thailand - Southern Vietnamese box turtle, Hanging parrot, Sulawesi myna, Annamite striped rabbit

12 May 2025 | Thailand - Wagler’s pit viper, Common spotted cuscus, Opossum

21 May 2025 | Thailand - Red-eared slider turtle

25 May 2025 | Thailand - Blue iguana, African spurred tortoise

19 June 2025 | Thailand - Green iguana, Common spotted cuscus, Green finch

22 July 2025 | Thailand - Solomon corella, Great black cockatoo

02 August 2025 | Thailand - Silvery gibbon, Bornean white-bearded gibbon

19 September 2025 | Thailand - Water monitor lizard, Emerald tree monitor, Common spotted cuscus, Fig parrots

24 October 2025 | Thailand - Silvery gibbon

10 December 2025 | Thailand - Primates

17 January 2026 | Thailand - Squirrel monkey, Yellow iguana, Albino iguana, Blue iguana, Albert’s squirrel, Patagonian hare, Albino sugar glider

Illegal Wildlife Export Cases

04 August 2025 - Star tortoise

06 August 2025 - Star tortoise

26 November 2025 - Channa barca fish