Smuggled peacock, walrus trophies ring alarm bells for enforcement agencies

The seizure of illegally imported taxidermy trophies of a peacock and a walrus at Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport, Amritsar, has put focus on the global illegal wildlife trade and the growing demand for exotic animal artefacts in the country. The trophies, smuggled from Bangkok, have also alerted wildlife enforcement agencies, as such species are neither native to India nor legally permitted for personal possession. Wildlife experts say that India has very limited expertise in taxidermy, especially for exotic species, but demand among private collectors continues to fuel illegal imports. Officials said this was the first reported case…