In a dramatic operation, officers from the Department of Wildlife Conservation disguised themselves as tourists to bust an illegal animal collection racket in the Babawa Uddakandara forest area near Tissamaharama. Two German tourists and their local guide were taken into custody on November 2 following tip-offs regarding reptiles and insects being captured in the forest.
Undercover officers conducted night surveillance across multiple locations. They eventually tracked the two German nationals and the local guide down and carried out an initial search of their lodgings at the Yala Namba campsite, where nothing illicit was found at first.
Hidden Trove Found
The operation quickly took a turn when officers checked the local guide's quarters. He had reportedly tried to mislead investigators by pointing to the wrong room.
Upon searching his actual accommodation, wildlife officers recovered a huge haul of live creatures and animal remains. The stash included pythons, other reptiles, moths, dragonflies, porcupine quills, deer bones, cattle teeth, and peacock feathers.
Authorities also found equipment designed for catching snakes, along with specimen preservation containers and bottles of chemicals. The raid was carried out by officers from the Panahaduwa Wildlife Range Office of Udawalawe National Park.
Produced in Court
All three suspects were produced before the Tissamaharama Magistrate’s Court on November 3 along with the recovered items. The Magistrate directed officials to hand over the live animals to the Dehiwala Zoological Gardens.
The Department of Wildlife Conservation noted that previous arrests of foreign nationals for collecting animal specimens have raised major concerns about biopiracy and the theft of biological resources.
What happens next
The case is scheduled to be taken up again before the Tissamaharama Magistrate’s Court on November 6.
