Police busts exotic animals racket in Maharashtra

Eight young marsh crocodiles, two tortoises and as many Australian parrots were seized Monday from a locality here in Maharashtra, police said.

Two persons have been detained in this connection and the police are investigating if they had brought the animals for smuggling, they said.

Acting on a complaint of a wildlife activist, the Nashik Crime Branch conducted a raid at a house in Bhadrakali locality and seized the reptiles and the endangered birds, a police release said.

The two persons were subsequently detained for questioning, it added.