Chennai, Mar 30 (IANS): With Chennai turning into a hub of exotic species smuggling, the state forest department has increased vigil.

The amended Wildlife (Protection) Act will come into effect from April 1, 2023, and under this owning exotic species, including birds, animals, and rodents will be a punishable offence.

The forest department has stepped up vigil on exotic species being smuggled into the state and then transported to other states and even foreign destinations.

There have been several cases of smuggled exotic species being caught at the Chennai international airport. However, sources in Chennai airport told IANS that the volume of smuggled exotic species being caught at Chennai and other airports in Tamil Nadu is only meagre in comparison to the huge numbers clearing the gates of these airports and reaching mainstream markets.

Sources in the Tamil Nadu forest department told IANS that once the exotic species are smuggled into the country, these species which are priced much higher in grey market, are smuggled into other destinations of South India. In some cases, the species are transported to Northern Indian states like Delhi, Jaipur, and Lucknow.

The existing Wildlife (Protection) Act does not have provisions to punish those who illegally import and own exotic species. Those who smuggle the exotic species into India go scot-free and the consignment is repatriated back to the country of origin on the same flight.

Forest department sources told IANS that those who trade in exotic pets are now using their farmlands to rear these animals instead of smuggling them into the country. This helps them to reduce the cost and risk and the business is flourishing in all South Indian states and some cities like Jaipur, Lucknow, and New Delhi.