Mumbai News: Activist Urges Govt To Set Up Quarantine Unit At Airport Amid Surge In Exotic Wildlife Trafficking

In a strongly worded appeal to the Maharashtra Revenue and Forest Department, animal welfare activist and environmentalist Sunish Subramanian Kunju, Founder of Amma Care Foundation (ACF) and Plant & Animals Welfare Society (PAWS), Mumbai, has highlighted the alarming rise in illegal trafficking of exotic wildlife species into India through international airports and land routes.

The letter also marked to Maharashtra Forest Minister Ganesh Naik and Animal Husbandry Minister Pankaja Munde warns of grave risks posed by the lack of quarantine protocols, which could potentially lead to a COVID-19-like outbreak originating from smuggled exotic species.

Sunish, in the letter accessed by The Free Press Journal, notes that seizures by Customs and investigative agencies at airports such as Mumbai, Chennai, Delhi, and Hyderabad point to a highly organized wildlife trafficking network. Of these, Mumbai International Airport has emerged as a particularly critical entry point.

“There exists no dedicated or officially authorized facility at Mumbai Airport for handling, quarantine, or treatment of seized exotic animals,” the letter states. “The creatures are transported in inhumane conditions—stuffed in bags, exposed to extreme stress—leading to high mortality in the absence of timely care.”

Highlighting further gaps, Sunish states that seized animals often die before receiving medical attention. Shockingly, no postmortem examinations, panchnamas, or official documentation are carried out, raising serious legal and ethical concerns, while weakening the enforcement framework.’

Currently, local NGOs and private veterinary clinics provide temporary care, but they lack quarantine status under the Livestock Importation Act, 1898, and Infectious Diseases Control Act, 2009, thereby posing a biosecurity threat. Moreover, no clear legal or scientific repatriation protocols exist for returning these species to their countries of origin.

While India is a signatory to CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species), Sunish  says the implementation of both CITES protocols and Section 49Q of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 remains fragmented. He also points out that exotic animals have been repatriated in the past without adhering to international protocols, violating both domestic and global laws.

Football Transfer News: Juventus Reportedly Show Interest In Manchester United's Marcus Rashford

The letter says that it had made some demand and recommendation to the authorities “Firstly to establish a dedicated ‘Quarantine and Wildlife Rehabilitation Unit’ at Mumbai Airport, in collaboration with Central Zoo Authority (CZA), Animal Quarantine and Certification Services (AQCS), and recognized wildlife rescue centers. Secondly to conduct a mandatory health screening and disease testing of all confiscated exotic species, in line with CITES protocols. Thirdly to issue regulatory measures for airlines — including penalties and recovery of repatriation costs if found transporting illegal wildlife without clearance, and several others.

The recommendation also included the creation of a Standard Operation Procedure (SOP) through the National CITES Management Authority, including Quarantine protocols, Veterinary certification, Coordination with exporting countries, Documentation and cost recovery mechanisms.

“We remain available for further consultation, field insights, or collaborative efforts on this pressing matter,” Sunish confirmed to the authorities in the letter.