Whenever people think of kangaroos, they associate them with countries like Australia and New GuineaHowever, this weekend, several videos started circulating online in which kangaroos were seen roaming the streets of West Bengal’s Jalpaiguri district.
The fact that these animals were thousands of miles away from their natural habitat stunned not only regular people but also forest department officials.
Forest officials told reporters on Saturday that three kangaroos have been rescued from different parts of Siliguri city. Officials also said that they also found a dead kangaroo in what appears to be a dead kangaroo. animal trafficking,
West Bengal | Forest officials rescued two kangaroos near Gajoldoba in Jalpaiguri.
The kangaroos had some serious injuries on their bodies and have been sent to Bengal Safari Park for further treatment. A team has been constituted to investigate the matter: S Dutta, RO, Belakoba Forest Range (01.04) pic.twitter.com/kT40YmyDmq
— ANI (@ANI) 1 April 2022
West Bengal | Forest officials of Farbari-Nepali settlement in Jalpaiguri’s Dabgram forest area rescued another kangaroo last night from where the first two kangaroos were rescued on April 1. pic.twitter.com/mR4FmNZWnn
— ANI (@ANI) 2 April 2022
A senior forest official said, “After being rescued, the three kangaroos were sent for treatment. We wonder who brought these kangaroos here and how. We suspect that these kangaroos were being smuggled into Nepal. But we are also probing the motive behind the smuggling.”
These animals were seen by many local residents who were passing through the area. In one such video, kangaroos are seen inspecting the surroundings and trying to eat grass growing by the side of the road, as curious people try to record a video of them. While sharing the video, many people wondered whether the kangaroos have run away from the zoo.
Here is a video.
Just look at the poor, distraught animals who are clearly in a state of shock.pic.twitter.com/eVEceWGAHP— Soumyadipta (@Soumyadipta) 2 April 2022
Found this on WhatsApp. Looks like they have run away from the zoo… the reality is anyone knows@indiavs @parveen kaswan pic.twitter.com/4WWWYwPVVQ
— Sudhakar Kumar (@MyPicsSpeaks) 2 April 2022
They are not present in any of the zoos in the area. They are part of smuggling. Later confiscated. Now for safe custody in the zoo. Last month too, two were arrested along with a kangaroo. https://t.co/vUKY5VFx4x
— Parveen Kaswan, IFS (@ParveenKaswan) 2 April 2022
So we have kangaroos in India? I guess no.
But this is a serious matter. They should be handed over to the forest department and they will see where to keep them or breeding is possible but I don’t think they would be suitable for the Indian jungle.
— Mohamed Tariq (@emperor_mohd) 2 April 2022
Smuggled all the way from Australia? Kangaroo must be scared
— debali basu (@debalib) 2 April 2022
These kangaroos (not native to India) were being smuggled from Australia. Spotted in Gajoldoba forest in Jalpaiguri district of West Bengal.
Large scale wildlife smuggling is happening under the nose of toothless guidelines pic.twitter.com/EK9mcFaf8l
— arindam (@arindampaul1224) 2 April 2022
Responding to one such video, Indian Forest Service officer Parveen Kaswan clarified that these kangaroos were not part of any zoo and were rescued by the authorities.