Summary:
In a shocking incident of wildlife trafficking, forest officials from Thane forest department have arrested three people including the bus driver of a tourist for allegedly smuggling two juvenile crocodile hatchlings on Monday. The tourist bus coming from Hyderabad was intercepted at Borivali (east) on Western Express Highway by the officials who had a tip-off on the same. According to Thane officials, the crocodiles will be released in their natural habitat as soon as they get a court order for which they have already applied. As per wildlife experts, crocodiles are schedule I species and protected under Wildlife Protection Act 1972. "However hatchlings of crocodiles are often removed from their natural habitat and then smuggled for a hefty sum..