Two Lemurs Allegedly Stolen and Smuggled From Bangladesh Reportedly Traced to Vantara in Gujarat, Putting Wildlife Centre Under Spotlight

GUWAHATI, September 12, 2026: What began as the mysterious disappearance of three rare ring-tailed lemurs from Bangladesh’s Gazipur Safari Park has now grown into an international wildlife investigation, with two of the missing animals reportedly traced to Vantara, a wildlife conservation and rehabilitation centre in Gujarat.

More than a year after the lemurs allegedly disappeared from the safari park in March 2025, Bangladeshi investigators are trying to determine whether two ring-tailed lemurs seen at the Gujarat facility are actually the same animals that were stolen.

The development has reportedly prompted Bangladesh to seek assistance from Interpol, as investigators work to reconstruct the animals’ alleged journey from Bangladesh into India and identify the people who may have been involved.

At the heart of the investigation is a simple but difficult question: Are the two lemurs in Gujarat really the animals that vanished from Gazipur Safari Park?

So far, photographs have reportedly provided a possible link, but authorities do not yet appear to have conclusive scientific evidence. The missing animals reportedly did not have microchips, individual identification numbers or preserved DNA profiles, making the task of establishing their identities considerably more difficult.

Investigators may therefore have to bring together photographs, official records, witness accounts, financial information and, potentially, DNA testing before the mystery can be conclusively resolved.

How the three lemurs disappeared

The case reportedly began during the early hours of March 23, 2025, when three ring-tailed lemurs were allegedly taken from Gazipur Safari Park.

The disappearance triggered an investigation by Bangladesh’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID). As investigators followed the trail, they reportedly uncovered a suspected network involving several people who allegedly helped remove the animals from the safari park and arrange their movement towards India.

According to the reported investigation, two of the three lemurs were allegedly moved towards the Darshana border area in Chuadanga, from where they were believed to have entered India.

The animals reportedly passed through several locations and allegedly changed hands before eventually reaching Gujarat.

The trail later reportedly led investigators towards Jamnagar, where they began examining a possible connection with Vantara.

A major breakthrough, according to the reported investigation, came through photographs circulating on social media. Images showing two ring-tailed lemurs at Vantara reportedly caught the attention of Bangladeshi investigators, who compared them with photographs and information available about the missing animals.

The resemblance reportedly raised suspicion that the animals could be the same lemurs that disappeared from Gazipur.

However, investigators still face the challenge of proving that connection.

Photographs raise questions but cannot settle the case

Photographs can be valuable in wildlife investigations, particularly when animals have distinctive markings or physical characteristics. In this case, images of the lemurs reportedly gave Bangladeshi authorities a new lead after more than a year of investigation.

But visual similarity alone may not be enough to establish an animal’s identity.

Ring-tailed lemurs share many common physical characteristics, while their appearance can also change as they grow older or their health and living conditions change.

For that reason, investigators are reportedly looking for stronger evidence that could establish whether the animals at Vantara and the animals stolen from Gazipur are one and the same.

The absence of microchips and DNA records has made that process particularly challenging.

Investigation points to an alleged trafficking chain

As the CID investigation progressed, several individuals were reportedly identified in connection with the alleged theft and movement of the lemurs.

According to the reported findings, a wildlife trafficker identified as Jewel allegedly carried out the theft with the assistance of Nippen Mahmud, a security guard working at Gazipur Safari Park through an outsourced arrangement.

Investigators reportedly believe the animals were taken to a private residence after being removed from the safari park.

Photographs and videos of the lemurs were allegedly recorded there and subsequently shared with potential buyers in India.

The investigation reportedly also identified individuals known as Bablu, from Kolkata, and Shiplu, from Mumbai. They allegedly travelled to Bangladesh in May 2025 in connection with the proposed transaction.

Other individuals, including Delwar and Tapan, were reportedly involved in communications and arrangements related to the alleged movement of the animals.

Investigators reportedly examined negotiations over the animals and their alleged value.

According to the reported findings, an adult lemur and a juvenile were allegedly valued at approximately Tk 1.7 million, while another juvenile was reportedly valued at around Tk 300,000.

Authorities have reportedly estimated that Indian buyers paid around Rs 48 lakh for two of the animals.

These allegations remain part of an ongoing investigation, and the precise role of each individual named by authorities will ultimately depend on evidence and legal proceedings.

The alleged route from Bangladesh to Gujarat

The investigation reportedly suggests that the animals were moved through the Darshana area with assistance from a local intermediary before allegedly crossing into India.

Once across the border, the lemurs reportedly passed through several hands and locations.

For investigators, tracing wildlife through such a route can be extremely difficult. Unlike ordinary goods, animals can be transported privately, moved between individuals and facilities, and potentially hidden from authorities.

Every change of ownership can create another gap in the trail.

The reported estimate of around Rs 48 lakh paid by Indian buyers has added another important dimension to the investigation, with authorities reportedly examining financial transactions and communications that could help establish how the animals were allegedly moved and sold.

Social media unexpectedly becomes part of the investigation

In a case involving animals that had disappeared more than a year earlier, social media reportedly became an important source of information.

Photographs of two ring-tailed lemurs at Vantara reportedly came to the attention of Bangladeshi investigators.

Authorities then compared those images with available photographs of the missing lemurs from Gazipur Safari Park.

The similarities reportedly prompted investigators to examine the Gujarat connection more closely.

The episode also demonstrates how images posted online can sometimes provide unexpected clues in wildlife crime investigations. A photograph that may appear ordinary to the public can become significant when investigators are searching for a specific missing animal.

Still, the images alone do not establish the animals’ identities. Authorities reportedly need additional evidence before reaching a definitive conclusion.

Why the lack of microchips is a major problem

One of the biggest difficulties facing investigators is reportedly the absence of individual identification records for the stolen lemurs.

The animals at Gazipur Safari Park were reportedly not fitted with microchips and did not have individual registration or identification numbers.

Their DNA profiles were also reportedly not preserved.

That gap could prove significant.

A microchip provides an animal with a unique identity that can be checked whenever it is transferred or examined. DNA records can provide another highly reliable way of establishing an animal’s identity or biological relationship with another animal.

Had such records been available, investigators could potentially have compared the animals in Gujarat with the records maintained in Bangladesh much more quickly.

Instead, investigators reportedly have to rely on photographs, documents, witness statements and other available evidence while exploring the possibility of genetic testing.

DNA testing could help resolve the mystery

DNA testing may ultimately provide one of the strongest pieces of evidence in the investigation.

Bangladeshi authorities are reportedly considering whether genetic testing can establish a connection between the two lemurs in Gujarat and the animals that disappeared from Gazipur.

The juvenile lemur that remains in Bangladesh could potentially provide useful genetic evidence.

If testing were to establish a biological relationship between the remaining animal in Bangladesh and the two lemurs reportedly found in Gujarat, it could significantly strengthen the investigators’ theory that the animals are part of the same group.

However, until such testing is completed and interpreted alongside other evidence, the identity of the two lemurs reportedly traced to Vantara remains unresolved.

Bangladesh reportedly turns to Interpol

Because the case allegedly involves the movement of endangered wildlife across an international border, Bangladesh has reportedly sought assistance from Interpol.

International cooperation could help investigators communicate with authorities in India, examine the animals’ movements and gather information from different jurisdictions.

It could also assist in examining the people, transactions and locations allegedly connected to the animals’ journey.

Wildlife trafficking often does not stop at national borders. An animal can disappear in one country, be transported through another and eventually surface thousands of kilometres away.

That is why cooperation between countries is considered particularly important in cases involving endangered species.

The lemurs had been in Bangladesh since 2018

The story of the three lemurs goes back several years before their disappearance.

According to the reported investigation, the animals arrived in Bangladesh in August 2018 through Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.

They were allegedly declared to customs as birds and were subsequently transferred to Gazipur Safari Park after being seized.

The lemurs later bred at the safari park and produced two offspring.

After the male reportedly died, the female and two juveniles remained at the facility.

Three animals from this group were later reportedly stolen in March 2025.

The CID has reportedly named eight people in connection with the alleged theft and trafficking case. Six of them are reportedly said to have made confessional statements before a court.

Investigators have also reportedly identified the Dhaka-based customs clearing company ASHA Enterprise as the importer and are examining the role of intermediaries involved in the animals’ earlier movement.

Experts call for stronger identification systems

The case has also drawn attention to a broader problem in wildlife conservation: the need to maintain detailed individual records for rare animals.

Wildlife and zoo expert Md Reza Khan reportedly stressed that endangered animals should have unique identification numbers and preserved DNA profiles.

Such records can become extremely important if an animal is stolen, transferred illegally or found in another country.

A combination of microchips, DNA profiles, photographs and detailed documentation can create a reliable identity record for every animal.

Experts have also reportedly called for stronger monitoring along international borders, including better CCTV coverage and modern surveillance systems.

They have stressed that wildlife protection cannot depend on a single agency. Forest departments, police, intelligence agencies, customs authorities and other enforcement bodies need to work together to identify and disrupt trafficking networks.

Why ring-tailed lemurs are particularly vulnerable

The case has attracted attention not only because of the alleged cross-border movement of the animals but also because of the conservation status of the species.

Ring-tailed lemurs are native to Madagascar and are easily recognised by their distinctive black-and-white striped tails.

The species is classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List and is listed under Appendix I of CITES, reflecting the strict controls surrounding international commercial trade in the species.

For conservationists, the alleged disappearance and movement of such animals is therefore particularly concerning.

The case is about more than two individual lemurs. It highlights how vulnerable rare species can become when they are targeted by illegal wildlife traders and how difficult it can be for authorities to trace them once they cross borders.

What happens next?

The central task for investigators is now to establish whether the two ring-tailed lemurs reportedly traced to Gujarat are indeed the animals stolen from Gazipur Safari Park.

That question may eventually be answered through scientific testing.

If DNA analysis establishes a biological link between the remaining lemur in Bangladesh and the two animals reportedly in Gujarat, investigators could have significantly stronger evidence to support their claim.

Photographs, financial records, communications, witness statements and other documents could then help authorities reconstruct the alleged journey of the animals from Bangladesh to India.

If the animals are conclusively identified as the stolen lemurs, the next stage could involve discussions between authorities in both countries over their legal status and possible return.

Such a process would likely require cooperation between wildlife authorities, law-enforcement agencies and government bodies on both sides of the border.

A warning for wildlife conservation

Whatever the final outcome of the investigation, the case has highlighted a crucial lesson for wildlife protection: an endangered animal must be identifiable and traceable throughout its life.

Microchips, unique identification numbers, DNA profiles, photographs and proper documentation can provide the evidence needed when an animal disappears or is found somewhere unexpected.

The alleged journey of the three lemurs—from their disappearance at Gazipur Safari Park to their suspected movement across the Bangladesh-India border and the reported tracing of two animals to Gujarat—shows how complicated international wildlife crime can become.

For now, investigators are still trying to establish the truth behind the two lemurs reportedly linked to Vantara.

Bangladesh’s reported request for Interpol assistance and the possibility of DNA testing could become important steps in determining their identity and tracing their alleged journey.

More importantly, the case has renewed attention on the need for stronger wildlife identification systems, tighter border monitoring and closer international cooperation.

For endangered species, every missing animal matters. And when an animal crosses a national border, proving where it came from can become just as important as finding out where it went.

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