Photo Courtesy: nenow
Guwahati: Assam police smashed a major wildlife smuggling ring on June 19, 2026. The Special Task Force intercepted vehicles on National Highway-27 in the Chirang district. They found eight endangered golden langurs crammed inside tight gunny sacks. One primate died from the physical trauma caused by the transit.
Officers arrested nine people during the raid. The group included one Bangladeshi national, five men from West Bengal, and three locals. Investigators believe the operation linked local intermediaries to a larger international trafficking network. The survivors were rehabilitated and released back into the wild at the Ultapani range on June 23.
Golden langurs are listed as endangered on the IUCN Red List. With only 7,396 estimated in India, every loss cripples the population. Habitat destruction and poaching now threaten their survival. "Large-scale destruction of forests and encroachment inside the Sikhna Jwhwlao National Park have been quite appalling," noted retired forest ranger Dharanidhar Boro.
Traffickers often kill mothers to steal infants for the pet trade. Organized gangs supply private zoos and traditional medicine markets in Southeast Asia. Despite being protected under the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972, the animals face constant threats from poachers. Experts maintain that local communities must serve as the primary line of defense against these criminals.
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