8 crocodiles rescued as smuggling bid is foiled in UAE

Sharjah - A Siamese crocodile - which is one of the rarest animals - was among the rescued animals.

Authorities in Sharjah have foiled a bid to smuggle 17 critically endangered animals, including eight small crocodiles. According to the Environment and Protected Areas Authority (EPAA), "a group of Gulf nationals" were trying to smuggle the animals.
The authority teamed up with the police to catch the suspects and rescue the eight crocodiles and nine birds. "The confiscated animals are not only endangered species, but also listed under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), class 1," the EPAA said in a Press statement.
A Siamese crocodile - which is one of the rarest animals - was among the rescued animals. One of the confiscated birds, Hornbill, is among the rarest and are typically found in small numbers in Africa and the tropical forests of Asia. "The second species of the confiscated birds is the helmeted hornbill, which belongs to the hornbill family, yet is different in terms of size, horn density and formation," the EPAA said.
In line with the local and international environmental laws that prohibit the trade of endangered animals, the EPAA has fined the suspects and confiscated their IDs.
According to the prevailing rules in Sharjah, the fine for the possession of dangerous and predatory animals in houses or farms is Dh100,000. The fine for transporting dangerous and predatory animals without the prior approval of the EPAA is Dh10,000.
reporters@khaleejtimes.com
 

• Sharjah