India, July 18 -- Over the past two months, customs officials at Pune and Mumbai airports have seized over 350 exotic animals, highlighting a rapidly flourishing wildlife trafficking route originating from Bangkok and utilising Maharashtra as a central hub.

In June and July alone, customs officials at Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport and Pune Airport intercepted six consignments of wild animals-including snakes, parrots, tortoises, rabbits, macaws, and rare reptiles-many of which are protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

"Maharashtra's connectivity and infrastructure make it attractive for traffickers. The animals are usually flown in via Ba...