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. "The two crocodile hatchlings which were about two feet were packed in a carton and kept near the driver's seat and as soon as the bus arrived our team entered the bus and carried out a detailed search and found the box," said Deputy Conservator of Forest (DCF) Thane forest, Dr Jitendra Ramgaonkar. Range Forest Officer (RFO), Thane Territorial, Narendra Muthe stated that they nabbed the bus driver Mohammed Abdhul Rahim Hafeez (33) a resident of Hyderabad along with Khuddus Latif Baig (38) a resident of Karnataka and Shivaji Balaya (28) a resident of Hyderabad who was along with Hafeez. REPTILE FACTS Crocodiles are schedule I species and protected under Wildlife Protection Act 1972 The hatchlings were under stress due to long travel and being confined in a small box These juvenile reptiles, known as ‘Crocodylus Palustris’, are estimated to be worth between Rs 1,00,000-2,00,000 each in grey markets "We have got the custody of the trio from the court till September 20 and further investigations were being carried out to understand from where and how did they procure the crocodile hatchlings," informed Ramgaonkar. Meanwhile, the hatchlings were taken to Dr Shailesh Pethe, Veterinary Officer, SGNP for medical examination. "Both are females and were under stress mostly due to the long travel and being confined in a small box. A detailed medical examination was carried out and they are fit to be released and were handed to the Thane team on Monday," he informed. 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. They are in great demands across Maharashtra and even in areas around Mumbai, Thane and Navi Mumbai where people want to keep them in the ponds and swimming pools built in and around their farmhouses," said a wildlife activist.

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