Two Critically Endangered Lemurs Allegedly Stolen From Bangladesh Reportedly Traced to Vantara in Gujarat; Interpol Help Sought

Guwahati: A suspected international wildlife trafficking case involving three ring-tailed lemurs stolen from Bangladesh has taken a fresh turn, with investigators reportedly tracing two of the critically endangered animals to Vantara, a wildlife conservation and rehabilitation centre in Gujarat.

The development has brought renewed attention to the alleged illegal movement of endangered wildlife across the India-Bangladesh border. Bangladeshi authorities are reportedly seeking assistance from Interpol as they work to establish what happened to the animals after they disappeared from Gazipur Safari Park in March 2025.

At the heart of the investigation is a simple but crucial question: Are the two lemurs currently at Vantara the same animals that were allegedly stolen from Bangladesh?

For now, authorities have not been able to answer that question conclusively. Investigators reportedly have photographs and other leads suggesting a possible connection, but the absence of proper identification records and preserved DNA samples has made scientific confirmation difficult.

Three lemurs allegedly disappeared from Gazipur Safari Park

The case began on the morning of March 23, 2025, when three ring-tailed lemurs were allegedly stolen from Gazipur Safari Park in Bangladesh.

According to Bangladesh’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID), the animals were removed from the safari park during the early hours and subsequently became part of what investigators believe was a wider trafficking chain.

The investigation has reportedly uncovered allegations involving several individuals who may have played different roles in removing, transporting and attempting to sell the animals.

Investigators believe that although three lemurs were allegedly taken from the safari park, two were subsequently moved out of Bangladesh. The animals were reportedly taken through the Darshana area of Chuadanga, a border region close to India, before continuing their journey into the country.

From there, investigators believe the two lemurs changed hands several times before eventually reaching Jamnagar in Gujarat.

Photographs provide an important lead

The investigation reportedly gained fresh momentum after photographs of two ring-tailed lemurs at Vantara surfaced on social media.

Bangladeshi investigators reportedly noticed similarities between the animals shown in those photographs and the lemurs that had been reported missing from Gazipur Safari Park.

The photographs subsequently became an important lead. Investigators began examining whether the two animals photographed at Vantara could be the same animals that had disappeared from Bangladesh.

However, photographs alone cannot provide the level of certainty required to conclusively establish the animals’ identities.

The investigation has been complicated by the fact that the lemurs reportedly did not have microchips or individual identification numbers. In addition, DNA samples were apparently not preserved while the animals were being kept at the safari park.

That lack of biological and identification records has left investigators with a major evidentiary challenge.

Lack of DNA records creates a major hurdle

For endangered wildlife, individual identification can be extremely important. Animals housed in zoos, safari parks and conservation centres may have similar physical characteristics, making photographs an unreliable way to establish identity on their own.

A microchip, detailed photographic record or DNA profile can provide a much stronger means of establishing an animal’s identity.

In the case of the Gazipur lemurs, investigators reportedly do not have preserved DNA samples from the animals that were allegedly stolen. As a result, authorities currently lack conclusive scientific proof linking the two lemurs at Vantara to the missing animals.

This does not rule out a connection, but it means investigators need additional evidence before the identification can be considered established.

The possibility of obtaining genetic evidence from the third lemur could therefore become particularly important.

Third lemur could provide crucial genetic evidence

According to reports surrounding the investigation, one juvenile lemur remains in Bangladesh.

Authorities are reportedly attempting to obtain a genetic profile from that animal. If its DNA can be compared with samples obtained from the two lemurs in Gujarat, investigators could potentially determine whether they share a biological relationship.

A successful genetic match could provide powerful evidence supporting the theory that the animals in Gujarat are connected to the group originally housed at Gazipur Safari Park.

Until such testing is completed, however, authorities must continue to treat the identification as a matter under investigation.

Alleged trafficking network under investigation

The CID investigation has reportedly pointed towards several people allegedly involved in the theft and subsequent movement of the lemurs.

A wildlife trafficker identified as Jewel has allegedly been accused of carrying out the theft with assistance from Nippen Mahmud, a security guard working at the safari park through an outsourced arrangement.

Investigators allege that after the animals were removed from the safari park, they were taken to a private residence.

Photographs and videos of the lemurs were reportedly made at the residence and allegedly circulated among potential buyers in India.

According to investigators, the images may have been part of efforts to find buyers willing to pay substantial sums for the rare animals.

The investigation has reportedly identified several intermediaries who allegedly helped facilitate negotiations, transportation and the movement of the lemurs.

Animals allegedly changed hands multiple times

Investigators reportedly believe that the two lemurs were moved through several individuals after leaving Bangladesh.

Statements collected during the investigation allegedly refer to negotiations involving an adult lemur and a juvenile. Another juvenile was reportedly discussed separately.

The animals were allegedly transported through the Darshana border route and subsequently passed between different handlers before eventually reaching Gujarat.

According to the investigation, buyers in India allegedly paid around Rs 48 lakh for the two animals.

The alleged transaction highlights the financial incentives that can drive illegal wildlife trafficking. Rare and exotic animals can command large sums in illicit markets, creating opportunities for criminal networks to profit from species that are already under serious conservation pressure.

A species facing serious conservation threats

The ring-tailed lemur is native to Madagascar, where its populations face significant threats.

The species’ distinctive appearance and increasingly restricted natural habitat have made conservation efforts particularly important. The illegal capture, transport and trade of such animals can place additional pressure on already vulnerable populations.

Wildlife trafficking is not limited to animals taken from the wild. In some cases, animals legally held in zoos, parks or conservation facilities can also become targets for theft because of their rarity and commercial value.

The alleged disappearance of the Gazipur lemurs therefore raises concerns not only about the fate of these particular animals but also about the security measures surrounding endangered wildlife kept in captivity.

The animals had already travelled a complicated journey

The history of the lemurs in Bangladesh adds another layer to the case.

According to information emerging from the investigation, the animals were brought into Bangladesh in 2018 through Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.

Authorities have alleged that the animals were misdeclared to customs as birds. They were later seized and transferred to Gazipur Safari Park.

The animals therefore had already been involved in an international movement before reaching the safari park.

Their alleged disappearance in 2025 and subsequent suspected movement towards India has now transformed the case into a complex cross-border investigation.

Why Interpol assistance matters

Because the investigation involves two countries, Bangladeshi authorities reportedly want assistance from Interpol.

International cooperation can become essential when suspected wildlife trafficking involves movement across national borders. Investigators may need to verify travel routes, identify people involved in transportation, examine financial transactions and determine how the animals entered another country.

Authorities may also need to examine whether the animals were accompanied by valid documentation, permits or other records required for the legal movement of protected wildlife.

The involvement of international agencies could help investigators coordinate information between different jurisdictions and establish a clearer picture of the animals’ movements.

The case exposes weaknesses in wildlife identification

Perhaps one of the most important lessons emerging from the investigation concerns the identification and documentation of endangered animals.

If the lemurs had been individually microchipped and their DNA profiles preserved, investigators might have been able to establish their identities much more quickly.

Experts and conservationists have long emphasised the importance of maintaining detailed records for animals kept in captivity.

Such records can include:

• Individual microchip numbers
• DNA profiles
• Clear identification photographs
• Medical and veterinary records
• Date and place of acquisition
• Information about the animal’s origin
• Details of transfers between facilities

Maintaining such information can help authorities respond quickly if an animal disappears, is stolen or is later discovered in another location.

A wider warning about wildlife trafficking

The case also illustrates how difficult wildlife trafficking investigations can become once an animal crosses an international border.

An animal may move through several people and locations within a short period. Each transfer can make it harder for investigators to reconstruct the original chain of custody.

In the alleged lemur case, investigators are reportedly trying to determine who removed the animals from the safari park, who transported them towards the border, who helped move them into India and who ultimately acquired them.

Each link could provide evidence about the wider network.

The alleged involvement of intermediaries also demonstrates why wildlife trafficking cases can be more complicated than conventional theft cases. The value of the animals, the secrecy surrounding transactions and the involvement of multiple jurisdictions can make investigations particularly challenging.

What happens next?

For Bangladeshi investigators, the immediate priority is to establish the identities of the two lemurs reportedly found at Vantara.

Photographs have provided an important lead, but investigators need stronger evidence to establish a definitive connection.

The genetic profile of the juvenile lemur remaining in Bangladesh could potentially play an important role. If DNA testing establishes a biological link with the animals in Gujarat, it could significantly strengthen the investigation.

If the animals are ultimately confirmed to be the same lemurs allegedly stolen from Gazipur Safari Park, authorities could then have to determine the appropriate legal and international process concerning their custody and possible return.

Any potential repatriation would likely involve coordination between the relevant authorities in both countries and would have to follow applicable wildlife protection and international procedures.

A case that could have wider implications

Beyond the fate of the two lemurs, the investigation could have broader implications for wildlife conservation and cross-border enforcement.

The alleged movement of critically endangered animals from one country to another demonstrates the importance of stronger border surveillance, better documentation and closer cooperation between wildlife authorities.

It also underlines the need for conservation centres and zoological facilities to maintain accurate, tamper-resistant identification records for every endangered animal under their care.

For conservationists, the case is a reminder that protecting wildlife does not end once an animal is placed inside a protected facility. Security, monitoring, identification and documentation remain essential throughout the animal’s life.

The investigation also highlights the need for authorities to respond quickly when endangered animals disappear. The faster an animal’s identity and movement can be established, the greater the chance of tracing it before it is moved further or becomes difficult to locate.

The unanswered question

More than a year after the alleged theft, the fate of the two lemurs remains at the centre of the investigation.

The photographs from Vantara have raised questions and provided investigators with a potentially significant lead. But without conclusive DNA or identification records, authorities still have to establish whether the animals are genuinely the same ones that disappeared from Gazipur Safari Park.

As Bangladesh seeks international assistance and continues its investigation, scientific evidence could ultimately determine the next stage of the case.

If a definitive link is established, it could become a significant development in a case that has already crossed borders and raised concerns about the illegal trade in endangered wildlife.

For now, investigators continue to piece together the journey of the two lemurs — from their reported disappearance at Gazipur Safari Park, through the alleged border crossing, and eventually to their reported appearance in Gujarat.

The central question remains unresolved: Are the two ring-tailed lemurs at Vantara the same critically endangered animals allegedly stolen from Bangladesh?

The answer may ultimately depend on the evidence that investigators are able to gather, particularly genetic evidence and records that can establish the animals’ identities beyond doubt.

News source: Information for this article was gathered from a variety of reliable news outlets.