Indian authorities accidental they person arrested a Canadian antheral astatine Delhi airdrome for carrying a crocodile skull successful his luggage.
The 32-year-old antheral was astatine the airdrome connected Monday to drawback his formation to Canada erstwhile helium was archetypal stopped during information check.
"Upon examination, a skull with crisp teeth, resembling the jaw of a babe crocodile, weighing astir 777g (1.71lb), was discovered wrapped successful a cream-colored cloth," Delhi customs said successful a connection connected Thursday.
The antheral was arrested and the skull was handed implicit to the Department of Forests and Wildlife, they said.
Officials said the possession of crocodile skull violated India's wildlife extortion instrumentality and its Customs Act.
An investigation of the skull by the Department of Forests and Wildlife recovered that it belonged to a taxon protected nether India's Wildlife Protection Act.
"The texture, bony pattern, well-developed bony palate, and nostrils confirmed the point arsenic the skull of a babe crocodile," they said.
A wood authoritative told the Times of India newspaper that the antheral had allegedly bought the skull from Thailand.
"The antheral did not person the mandatory support required to transportation wildlife items," wood serviceman Rajesh Tandon said.
The antheral besides told officers helium had not hunted oregon killed the crocodile, the Hindustan Times reports.
Further tests are being carried retired to place the nonstop sub-species of the animal.
Meanwhile, Delhi customs says a lawsuit has been registered against the antheral and an probe is nether way.
Last year, a 32-year-old Canadian pistillate was stopped astatine Delhi airdrome aft she was recovered to person horns of an unidentified carnal successful her luggage. The pistillate told officials she had picked them up during a trek successful the bluish Ladakh portion and decided to instrumentality them backmost arsenic a souvenir.