Indian authorities say they arrested a Canadian man at Delhi airport for carrying a crocodile skull in his luggage.
The 32-year-old man was at the airport on Monday to catch a flight to Canada when he was first stopped during a security check.
“After examination, a skull with sharp teeth, resembling the jaw of a baby crocodile, weighing approximately 777 g (1.71 lb), was discovered wrapped in a cream-colored cloth,” Delhi Customs said on Thursday.
The man was arrested and the skull was handed over to the Forest and Wildlife Department, they said.
Officials said possession of the crocodile skull violates India’s Wildlife Protection Act and Customs Act.
An analysis of the skull by the Forest and Wildlife Department found that it belonged to a species protected under the Indian Wildlife Protection Act.
“The texture, tooth pattern, well-developed bony palate and nostrils confirmed the object to be a baby crocodile skull,” they said.
Said the forest official Times of India newspaper that the man allegedly bought the skull from Thailand.
“The man did not have the mandatory permit required to carry wildlife items,” said forest officer Rajesh Tandon.
Man too he told the officers that he did not hunt or kill the crocodilereports the Hindustan Times.
Further tests are carried out to identify the exact subspecies of the animal.
Meanwhile, Delhi Customs says a case has been registered against the man and investigation is on.
Last year, a 32-year-old Canadian woman was stopped at the Delhi airport after the horns of an unidentified animal were discovered in her luggage. The woman told officials that she picked them up during a trip in the northern Ladakh region and decided to take them back as a souvenir.
