Vantara Comes Under Focus After Two Critically Endangered Lemurs Allegedly Smuggled From Bangladesh Are Reportedly Found at the Gujarat Wildlife Centre

GUWAHATI, September 9, 2026: A wildlife theft case that began at a safari park in Bangladesh has now crossed international borders, with two critically endangered ring-tailed lemurs reportedly traced to Vantara in Gujarat.

The development comes more than a year after three ring-tailed lemurs were allegedly stolen from Gazipur Safari Park in Bangladesh in March 2025. Bangladeshi investigators are now examining whether two animals seen at the Gujarat facility could be the same lemurs that disappeared from the safari park.

Bangladesh has reportedly sought assistance from Interpol as authorities attempt to establish the animals’ identity and understand how they may have travelled from Bangladesh to India.

The case has also exposed a major problem faced by investigators: the stolen lemurs reportedly did not have microchips, individual identification numbers or preserved DNA records. As a result, proving their identity may require a combination of photographic evidence, witness statements, documentary records and potentially DNA testing.

How the three lemurs disappeared

According to Bangladesh’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID), three ring-tailed lemurs were allegedly stolen from Gazipur Safari Park during the early hours of March 23, 2025.

The incident reportedly set off an investigation that eventually uncovered a suspected network involving several people on both sides of the Bangladesh-India border.

Investigators reportedly believe that two of the three lemurs were taken out of Bangladesh through the Darshana border area in Chuadanga. The animals allegedly changed hands several times after crossing into India and were eventually moved towards Gujarat.

The investigation later reportedly focused on Jamnagar, where the animals were believed to have been linked to Vantara.

The connection came under greater scrutiny after photographs showing two ring-tailed lemurs at Vantara appeared on social media. Bangladeshi investigators reportedly noticed similarities between the animals in those photographs and images of the lemurs that had gone missing from Gazipur Safari Park.

The photographs became an important lead, but they have not, by themselves, established the animals’ identities conclusively.

Investigators allege a wider trafficking network

As investigators followed the trail, several individuals were reportedly identified as being allegedly connected with the theft and movement of the animals.

The CID has reportedly alleged that a wildlife trafficker identified as Jewel was involved in carrying out the theft, with assistance from Nippen Mahmud, a security guard working at the safari park through an outsourced arrangement.

Investigators reportedly found that 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 circulated among potential buyers in India.

The investigation also reportedly named 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 facilitating communications and arrangements within Bangladesh.

Statements recorded during the investigation reportedly suggested that negotiations took place over the sale of the animals.

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

The allegations remain subject to investigation and legal proceedings, and the precise role of each person named by investigators will ultimately have to be established through the appropriate legal process.

From a safari park in Bangladesh to Gujarat

The CID investigation reportedly indicates that two of the stolen lemurs were moved across the Bangladesh-India border through the Darshana area with the assistance of a local intermediary.

Once inside India, the animals allegedly travelled through multiple locations and changed hands before eventually reaching Gujarat.

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

The alleged financial transactions, the movement of the animals and the people involved are now being examined as part of a suspected international wildlife trafficking operation.

The case demonstrates the difficulty authorities face when rare animals are moved through several locations. Unlike ordinary goods, endangered wildlife can be difficult to track once ownership records become unclear and the animals are moved between different facilities or individuals.

Social media unexpectedly helped investigators

Social media photographs reportedly became one of the key clues in the investigation.

When Bangladeshi investigators saw photographs of two ring-tailed lemurs at Vantara, they reportedly compared the animals with photographs and available records relating to the three lemurs that disappeared from Gazipur Safari Park.

The similarities reportedly prompted authorities to investigate the Gujarat connection.

But there is an important distinction between identifying a possible match and proving an animal’s identity.

Ring-tailed lemurs can look remarkably similar, and photographs cannot necessarily establish that two animals are the same individuals. Investigators therefore need stronger evidence to establish where the animals came from.

Missing identification records complicate the case

One of the biggest difficulties in the investigation is reportedly the absence of reliable individual identification records.

The lemurs at Gazipur Safari Park were reportedly not fitted with microchips and did not have individual registration numbers. Their DNA profiles were also reportedly not preserved.

For endangered wildlife, such records can be critical.

A microchip can provide an animal with a unique identification number, while a DNA profile can offer scientific evidence that remains useful even when an animal has been moved far from its original location.

In this case, investigators reportedly have to work with photographs, documents, witness accounts and other available evidence while considering whether DNA testing can provide a definitive answer.

Why DNA testing could be important

Bangladeshi authorities are reportedly exploring the possibility of comparing the genetic profile of the juvenile lemur that remains in Bangladesh with the two animals believed to be in Gujarat.

If DNA testing establishes that the animals are biologically related, it could provide significant evidence supporting the investigators’ theory.

Such a result would not necessarily answer every question surrounding the alleged trafficking operation, but it could help establish whether the two animals in Gujarat are connected to the group that was kept at Gazipur Safari Park.

Until scientific testing and other evidence are available, however, the identity of the two lemurs reportedly traced to Gujarat remains unresolved.

Bangladesh reportedly approaches Interpol

Because the case involves an alleged international movement of endangered animals, Bangladesh has reportedly sought assistance from Interpol.

International cooperation could help investigators coordinate with authorities in India, examine the alleged movement of the animals and gather information relevant to the case.

The involvement of Interpol also reflects the broader nature of wildlife trafficking, which can extend beyond the jurisdiction of a single country.

For authorities, establishing the animals’ identity is likely to be an important first step before determining what legal and diplomatic measures may be required.

The animals’ story began in 2018

The history of the lemurs reportedly goes back several years before their disappearance.

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

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

The animals subsequently bred at the facility and produced two offspring.

After the male reportedly died, the female and two juveniles remained at the safari park. Three animals from this group were later reported stolen in March 2025.

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

Investigators have also reportedly identified a Dhaka-based customs clearing firm, ASHA Enterprise, as the importer and are examining the roles of several intermediaries allegedly involved in the movement of the animals.

Experts call for better tracking of endangered animals

The case has raised questions about how endangered wildlife should be identified and monitored inside zoos, safari parks and conservation centres.

Wildlife and zoo expert Md Reza Khan reportedly stressed the importance of assigning unique identification numbers to rare animals and preserving their DNA profiles when they enter protected facilities.

Such records could make a major difference when an animal is stolen, illegally traded or transported across international borders.

Experts have also reportedly called for stronger surveillance along international borders, including wider use of CCTV cameras and modern monitoring technology.

They have stressed the need for closer cooperation between forest departments, police, intelligence agencies and other enforcement bodies to identify trafficking networks and prevent endangered animals from being moved illegally.

Ring-tailed lemurs are critically endangered

The seriousness of the case is also linked to the conservation status of the animals involved.

Ring-tailed lemurs are native to Madagascar and are famous for their distinctive black-and-white striped tails. The species faces significant threats in the wild, including habitat loss and other pressures.

The ring-tailed lemur is classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List and is listed under Appendix I of CITES, which places strict restrictions on international commercial trade.

The reported movement of such animals across international borders therefore raises concerns well beyond the fate of the individual lemurs.

What could happen next?

The immediate challenge for Bangladeshi investigators is to determine whether the two ring-tailed lemurs reportedly found in Gujarat are actually the animals stolen from Gazipur Safari Park.

DNA testing could potentially play a decisive role, particularly because the original animals reportedly lacked microchips and preserved genetic records.

If the animals are conclusively identified as the stolen lemurs, authorities would then need to determine the legal and international process for their possible return to Bangladesh.

That process could involve cooperation between wildlife authorities, law-enforcement agencies and other government bodies in both countries.

A larger lesson for wildlife protection

The case has highlighted a problem that extends far beyond Bangladesh and India.

When endangered animals are kept in zoos, safari parks or conservation facilities, their protection should involve more than physical security. Each animal should also have a reliable identity that can be verified if it is moved, transferred or reported missing.

Microchips, individual registration numbers, DNA profiles, photographs and detailed records can provide investigators with the tools they need to trace animals and establish their origins.

The alleged journey of these lemurs—from their reported theft in Bangladesh, through an alleged cross-border trafficking route and ultimately to a possible location in Gujarat—shows how quickly wildlife crime can become an international issue.

For now, the identity of the two lemurs reportedly traced to Vantara remains to be conclusively established. Bangladesh’s reported request for Interpol assistance and the possibility of DNA testing could provide important answers.

More importantly, the case serves as a reminder that protecting endangered wildlife requires strong identification systems, proper documentation, effective border surveillance and close international cooperation.

For the two lemurs at the centre of the investigation, the hope is that the evidence will eventually establish where they came from, how they reached Gujarat and what should happen to them next.

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