Chirang, June 22: In a major crackdown on transnational wildlife trafficking, the Assam Police Special Task Force (STF), in coordination with local law enforcement and forest officials, rescued eight endangered Golden Langurs and arrested nine suspected wildlife smugglers during a special operation in Assam’s Chirang district.
According to a post shared by STF Assam on X, the operation was launched in the early hours of June 20 at Sidli in Chirang district. The rescued Golden Langurs are a Schedule-I protected species under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, making their illegal capture and trade a serious criminal offence.
Acting on specific intelligence inputs, STF personnel intercepted two vehicles along Bamungaon Road in Sidli. During the operation, officials discovered that the langurs had allegedly been captured from the Ultapani forest area in neighbouring Kokrajhar district and were being transported for illegal trafficking.
Investigations revealed that the animals were intended to be smuggled to West Bengal before being moved across international borders through Bangladesh for sale in the black market. Authorities believe the operation was part of a larger wildlife trafficking network operating across state and international boundaries.
The rescued primates were reportedly being transported in extremely inhumane conditions, tightly packed inside sacks with little ventilation. Tragically, one Golden Langur died due to stress and suffocation during transit. The remaining seven animals survived and have been handed over to the Forest Department for medical care and rehabilitation. Officials stated that the langurs will be released back into their natural habitat once they are deemed fit.
Among the nine individuals arrested is a Bangladeshi national. The remaining suspects include five residents of West Bengal and three local associates from Assam who are believed to have facilitated the capture and transportation of the animals.
Golden Langurs (Trachypithecus geei) are among the rarest primates in the world and are found primarily in western Assam and parts of Bhutan. The species faces significant threats from habitat loss, fragmentation, and poaching, making conservation efforts critical for its survival.
Officials described the rescue as a significant success in the fight against organised wildlife crime and reiterated their commitment to dismantling trafficking networks involved in the illegal trade of endangered species. Further investigation is underway to identify additional members of the smuggling syndicate and trace its interstate and international links.
