Canadian man carrying crocodile bone arrested at Delhi airport

Indian authorities say a Canadian man has been arrested at Delhi airport for allegedly carrying a crocodile skull in his luggage.

The 32-year-old was at the airport on Monday to catch his flight to Canada when he was stopped at security for the first time.

“After examination, a skull with sharp teeth, resembling the jaw of a baby crocodile, weighing approximately 777g, was found wrapped in a cream colored cloth,” Delhi Customs said in a statement on Thursday.

The man was arrested and the skull handed over to the Forest and Wildlife Department, they said.

Officials said the possession of the crocodile bone violated India’s wildlife protection law and its Customs Act.

An analysis of the skull by the Forest and Wildlife Department found that it belonged to a species protected under the Indian Wildlife Protection Act.

“The texture, tooth pattern, well-developed bony palate and nostrils confirmed that the item is the skull of a baby crocodile,” they said.

A forest official said Times of India newspaper the man allegedly bought the skull from Thailand.

“The man did not have the mandatory permission to carry the wildlife items,” said Forest Officer Rajesh Tandon.

The man too he told the officers that he did not hunt or kill the crocodileHindustan Times reported.

Further tests are underway to identify the specific subspecies of the animal.

Meanwhile, Delhi Customs says a case has been registered against the man and an investigation is underway.

Last year, a 32-year-old Canadian woman was stopped at Delhi airport after she was found to have the horns of an unidentified animal in her luggage. The woman told officials that she had picked them up during a trek in northern Ladakh and decided to bring them back as souvenirs.