Three arrested for trading elephant molar teeth and ivory

NEW DELHI: Three persons have been arrested for alleged illegal trade of elephant molar teeth and ivory from Bijnor area in Uttar Pradesh.

A joint team of the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) along with Uttar Pradesh police and Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) seized ten kgs of molar teeth from the accused, identified as Furkan, Bahajuddin and Munsif.

"Following a tip-off, a trap was laid and a decoy customer was sent to finalise a deal. The accused were caught red-handed while exchanging molar teeth in lieu of money in Chandpur area," Ramesh Pandey, Deputy Director (Northern) of the Bureau said.

He said the two molars weighing around 5 kgs each were seized from their possession in the raid conducted two days ago.

"Trade in molar teeth is much more serious crime compared to ivory as the former can be extracted either by killing the elephant or when the animal dies.

"The seizure indicates that the poachers have reach deep inside the forests," Pandey said suggesting that so far ivory trade has been known to be a major drive for elephant poaching.

A case under various sections of Wildlife Protection Act has been registered against the accused and further investigation is on.