Smuggled Silvery Gibbons Rescued at Mumbai Airport Amid Widespread Anger Over Illegal Wildlife Trade

A viral video from Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport has sparked outrage after it showed Customs officials rescuing a Silvery Gibbon from a passenger's baggage. The operation was prompted by intelligence received from Bangkok about wildlife trafficking. The passenger was arrested under the Customs Act and the Wildlife Protection Act, while the surviving Gibbon was cared for by animal handlers. The incident highlights the cruelty of the illegal wildlife trade, which has led to the devastating decline of the Silvery Gibbon population.

Key Takeaways:

• Two baby Silvery Gibbons, aged two and four months, were found crammed into a confined space in a trolley bag as part of a smuggling operation.
• The passenger was arrested under the Customs Act and the Wildlife Protection Act for wildlife trafficking.
• The Silvery Gibbon is one of the world's most endangered primates, with fewer than 2,500 individuals remaining in the wild.
• Poachers often kill adult Gibbons to capture their young for the illegal pet trade, which devastates entire family groups and accelerates population decline.
• Experts warn that the demand for exotic pets continues to drive smuggling operations, managed by organized syndicates.
• Even if the end buyer provides care, these animals rarely survive outside their natural habitat.
• Customs officials seized 7.97 kilograms of suspected hydroponic weed, valued at approximately Rs 8 crore in the illicit market, in a separate incident on the same day.

Statistics:

• Two baby Silvery Gibbons were rescued from a smuggling operation at Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport.
• The Silvery Gibbon population has declined to fewer than 2,500 individuals in the wild.
• The seized hydroponic weed weighed 7.97 kilograms and was valued at around Rs 8 crore in the illicit market.

Sources:

• "Viral video shows Customs officials rescuing Silvery Gibbon from baggage at Mumbai airport," The Indian National Press (Bombay) Pvt. Ltd., 2025 (with inputs from Somendra Sharma)
• Contify.com