Hyderabad: Acting on specific intelligence, the officers of Hyderabad Zonal Unit of Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) apprehended two persons at Srisailam in Andhra Pradesh for their alleged involvement in trading of illegally possessed dead black and soft corals.
Around 9.812 kgs of dead black corals (Scientific Name: Antipatharia, Local Name: Indrajaal), 0.286 kgs of dead soft corals (Scientific Name: Alcyonacea, Local Name: Mahendrajaal) and half a dozen Trapezium horse conches (Scientific Name: Pleuroploca Trapezium) were recovered from the possession of the two persons.
The black and soft corals were listed in Schedule-I of Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 and are thereby provided the highest degree of protection, whereas Trapezium Horse Conch is listed in Schedule-II of Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, according to DRI officials.
Further, it was revealed that the supplier of the wildlife articles was based out of Ongole, a coastal town in Andhra Pradesh. In a swift follow-up action, a team of officers of Vijayawada regional unit of DRI apprehended the supplier and seized dead black corals weighing 6.64 kg.
There are no medical reasons or problem-solving benefits associated with them. These dead soft corals locally called as Mahendrajaal and dead black corals locally called as Indrajaal) are primarily sold for framing and display in homes to attract good luck.
The arrested persons along with the seized wildlife articles and the vehicles were handed over to the Forest department officials of Andhra Pradesh for further investigation under the provisions of the Wildlife (Protection) Act-1972.
