The South Bengal Frontier of the Border Security Force (BSF) rescued an African wild cat (Leptailurus serval) from an alleged wildlife smuggling attempt along the India-Bangladesh border of Nadia district of West Bengal on Wednesday (December 25, 2024).
According to a statement by the BSF, personnel of 56 Battalion on the second shift duty at the Bhattupara Border Outpost on December 25 had noticed around three to four suspected miscreants carrying a big box and approaching the Indo-Bangladesh Border Road in Indian territory.
However, when BSF jawans rushed towards the suspects, they reportedly fled through a dark orchard, leaving behind a box near the border.
Upon seizing and examining the wooden box, the BSF found an African wild cat, also known as the Seval, inside.
The rescued African wild cat was eventually handed over to the Krishnanagar Forest Department in Nadia district for further rehabilitation.
The BSF’s South Bengal Frontier guards 913 km of the India-Bangladesh border in the State, extending from Sunderbans in the south to the Malda district in the north. The riverine nature of this part of the Bangladesh border makes it particularly vulnerable to the smuggling of cattle, wildlife and narcotics, with multiple seizures of smuggled items being made by the BSF in recent years.
Published – December 26, 2024 08:53 pm IST