A group of traffickers smuggling eight Siamese crocodiles and nine birds from the rare hornbill family, have been arrested in Sharjah.
According to the state news agency, WAM, Sharjah's Environment and Protected Areas Authority and the police foiled the attempt to smuggle the rare creatures, which are are now being taken care of.
Mainly found in Asia, the Siamese crocodile is one of the world’s rarest reptiles and is listed as one of the critically endangered species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. The birds are also very rare and are on the International Union for Conservation of Nature's 'red list of threatened species'.
Sharjah authorities did not reveal much information on the smugglers, however they have stated that the smugglers are from the Gulf region.