Categories: World

Red panda found inside suspected smugglers’ luggage at Thailand airport

close Video

Fox News Flash top headlines for March 7

Fox News Flash top headlines are here. Check out what’s clicking on Foxnews.com.

Join Fox News for access to this content Plus special access to select articles and other premium content with your account – free of charge. Please enter a valid email address. By entering your email and pushing continue, you are agreeing to Fox News’ Terms of Use and Privacy Policy, which includes our Notice of Financial Incentive. To access the content, check your email and follow the instructions provided. Having trouble? Click here.

Customs officials in Thailand rescued an entire zoo worth of animals this week in an airport smuggling bust. 

Officers in Bangkok discovered snakes, monkeys, chameleons, and a red panda stashed in checked luggage at the city’s main airport. 

Six men of Indian nationality were arrested at Suvarnabhumi Airport following the discovery of the rare wildlife in baskets and bags.

SC MAN CONVICTED OF SMUGGLING PROTECTED TURTLES BETWEEN US, HONG KONG CHARGED WITH ANIMAL ABUSE IN GA

A confiscated red panda is seen inside luggage at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport after authorities arrested Indian national passengers who had tried to smuggle wildlife out of Thailand. (Thai Customs Department/Handout via REUTERS   )

Approximately 87 animals of various species were discovered in the baggage. 

Besides the panda and monkeys, authorities discovered exotic parrots, squirrels, and bats. 

The wildlife — most likely intended to be sold overseas to illicit buyers, carried in a variety of containers — was bound for Mumbai before police intervened.

FLORIDA FISH AND WILDLIFE TARGETS RING THAT ILLEGALLY TRAFFICKED COBRAS, VIPERS, AND OTHER VENOMOUS SNAKES

Passengers seen at Suvarnabhumi International Airport. Six Indian nationals were arrested at the airport’s customs area after officials discovered a collection of exotic animals in bins, baskets, and paper wrappings. (Peerapon Boonyakiat/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

The red panda was sealed in a wicker basket, while others were kept in paper wrappings and plastic bins.

The illicit practice of wildlife trafficking has become a big business moving in and out of Southeast Asia.

Animals as large as orangutans are frequently recovered by customs agents in sting operations aimed at fighting the inhumane black market for exotic animals.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Two Sumatran orangutans are transported to an airport customs dock in cages before they are repatriated from Thailand to Indonesia after having been smuggled into the kingdom at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok. (LILLIAN SUWANRUMPHA/AFP via Getty Images)

Exotic species are often purchased by traffickers for use as pets or to harvest for cuisine or medicine in countries such as China and Myanmar.

Timothy Nerozzi is a writer for Fox News Digital. You can follow him on Twitter @timothynerozzi and can email him at timothy.nerozzi@fox.com

Share

Recent Posts

Blinken questioned for State Department hosting in-house therapy sessions after Trump win

Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., took aim at Secretary of State Antony Blinken after it was…

15 minutes ago

Fetterman admits Dems ‘sort of lost ourselves’ on key election issue

Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., acknowledged that Democrats had a major problem when it came to…

3 hours ago

Sanctuary states, cities should explain to DOGE why they deserve federal money: MTG

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., on Sunday said leaders of sanctuary states and cities should…

3 hours ago

Manchin slams ‘17 educated idiots’ that were advising Biden during COVID

Outgoing Independent West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin slammed some of the advice President Biden received…

3 hours ago

First openly trans rep-elect claims GOP spotlighting transgender issues an ‘attempt to distract’ voters

The first openly transgender politician elected to the U.S. House, Democratic Rep.-elect Sarah McBride, claimed…

3 hours ago

Unearthed footage of Barron Trump speaking with mom’s accent spreads like wildfire after dad’s massive win

Videos of future first son Barron Trump speaking in a Slovenian accent as a young…

3 hours ago