Illegal Wildlife Trade Linked to Pet Shop Busted, Four Held

Accused advertised Indian Rock Python as 'Burmese Ball Python' for sale on Instagram

- DIVYA CUTINHO @Mangaluru

FOREST officials have busted a wildlife trade racket in Mangaluru and arrested four people, including the owner of a pet shop in the city, who were selling Indian Rock Python as 'Burmese Ball Python'.

The raid was carried out on July 15 near Ashwath Katte in Kadri in Mangaluru and forest officials arrested Vihal H Shetty (18) from Badaga Ulepady village in Mangaluru.

Further questioning of Vihal led to the arrest of Petzone shop owner Ibrahim Shakeel Ismail (35) from Munnur village in Ullal and his assistant Mohammad Mustaf (22) from Harekala village in Ullal and also a minor.

Mangaluru Range Forest Officer Rajesh Baligar told The New Indian Express that Indian Rock Python is protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act of 1972 and the accused have links in Tamil Nadu for purchase and sale of such wild animals.

One of the accused had advertised the Indian Rock Python as 'Burmese Ball Python', an exotic species available for sale in Mangaluru on Instagram.

The accused were trapped by the forest officials as buyers with the help of an informer and caught one of the accused red-handed with a live rock python.