Vantara in Spotlight Over Two Lemurs Allegedly Smuggled From Bangladesh

Bangladesh Seeks Interpol Assistance After Stolen Endangered Ring-Tailed Lemurs Are Traced to Gujarat’s Vantara

Guwahati, September 9, 2026: A case involving the alleged cross-border smuggling of two critically endangered ring-tailed lemurs from Bangladesh to India has drawn attention after the animals were reportedly traced to Vantara, a wildlife conservation and rehabilitation centre in Gujarat.

The two lemurs were reportedly among three animals stolen from Bangladesh’s Gazipur Safari Park in the early hours of March 23, 2025. According to an investigation by Bangladesh’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID), the animals were allegedly taken from the safari park and later moved through a trafficking network operating across Bangladesh and India.

Investigators said that while all three lemurs were initially stolen, two were subsequently smuggled into India through the Darshana border in Chuadanga. The animals were then reportedly moved through several locations before eventually reaching Jamnagar in Gujarat.

The case reportedly came under renewed scrutiny after photographs of two ring-tailed lemurs at Vantara surfaced on social media. Bangladeshi investigators noticed similarities between the animals shown in the photographs and the lemurs that had been reported missing from Gazipur Safari Park.

Security guard allegedly linked to the theft

According to the CID investigation, wildlife trafficker Jewel allegedly carried out the theft with assistance from Nippen Mahmud, a security guard who was working at the safari park through an outsourced arrangement.

Investigators reportedly found that the stolen lemurs were placed inside sacks and taken to a private residence. Photographs and videos of the animals were allegedly made there and circulated among prospective buyers in India.

The investigation has pointed to the involvement of several individuals in Bangladesh and India. Bablu, reportedly from Kolkata, and Shiplu of Mumbai allegedly travelled to Bangladesh in May 2025 in connection with the transaction. Delwar and Tapan were also reportedly involved in coordinating contacts and arrangements within Bangladesh.

Statements recorded during the investigation reportedly indicated that negotiations were held for the sale of the animals. One adult lemur and one juvenile were allegedly valued at Tk 1.7 million, while another juvenile was reportedly valued at Tk 300,000.

Alleged smuggling route through the Bangladesh-India border

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

After crossing the border, the animals reportedly changed hands several times before eventually reaching Jamnagar. According to the investigation, Indian buyers allegedly paid around Rs 48 lakh for the two animals.

The animals were subsequently linked by investigators to an institution associated with the Vantara project. The alleged movement of the lemurs and the financial transactions involved are now part of the wider investigation into the international trafficking of endangered wildlife.

Social media photographs helped investigators identify possible links

Social media reportedly played an important role in bringing the case to the attention of Bangladeshi investigators.

After photographs of two similar ring-tailed lemurs at Vantara were circulated online, investigators compared the images with photographs and records of the animals that had disappeared from Gazipur Safari Park.

The comparison reportedly revealed similarities. However, investigators face a significant challenge in establishing conclusively that the animals at Vantara are the same lemurs that were stolen from Bangladesh.

The main difficulty is the absence of individual identification records. According to the report, the lemurs were not fitted with microchips and did not have individual registration or identification numbers. Their DNA profiles had also not been preserved while they were at the safari park.

Because of this lack of scientific identification records, authorities currently do not have definitive evidence proving beyond doubt that the two animals at the Gujarat facility are the same animals stolen from Gazipur.

Bangladesh seeks Interpol assistance

With the identity of the animals still requiring scientific confirmation, Bangladesh has reportedly sought assistance from Interpol in its efforts to secure their possible repatriation.

Authorities are also looking at DNA testing as a possible way to establish a biological connection between the animals. Investigators are attempting to obtain a genetic profile of the juvenile lemur that remains in Bangladesh.

If DNA testing establishes that the remaining juvenile is biologically related to the two lemurs in Gujarat, it could provide important evidence supporting the claim that the animals are those stolen from Gazipur Safari Park.

The case has also highlighted the importance of maintaining proper identification records for endangered wildlife. Microchips, individual registration numbers and DNA profiles can help authorities establish an animal’s identity, origin and ownership, particularly when cases involve theft, illegal wildlife trade or cross-border movement.

Lemurs were originally brought to Bangladesh in 2018

The history of the animals goes back several years. According to the report, the lemurs were originally brought into Bangladesh in August 2018 through Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.

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

The pair subsequently bred at the facility and produced two offspring. After the male died, the female and two juveniles remained at the safari park. It was from this group that three animals were reportedly stolen in March 2025.

The CID has reportedly named eight people in the subsequent theft and trafficking case. Six of them are said to have made confessional statements before a court. Investigators have also identified a Dhaka-based customs clearing firm, ASHA Enterprise, as the importer and are examining the roles of several intermediaries allegedly involved in moving the animals from Bangladesh to India.

Experts call for stronger wildlife identification systems

The incident has raised broader questions about how endangered animals are identified and monitored in conservation facilities.

Wildlife and zoo expert Md Reza Khan reportedly stressed that rare and endangered animals should be given individual identification systems and have their DNA profiles preserved as soon as they are brought into zoos, sanctuaries or conservation centres.

Such records can become critical when authorities investigate cases involving stolen animals, illegal trade or international trafficking.

The expert also called for stronger technology-based monitoring along international borders. Expanded CCTV networks and modern surveillance systems, he said, could help authorities detect and prevent wildlife trafficking operations.

He further stressed the importance of identifying and prosecuting wildlife trafficking networks and called for greater coordination among forest authorities, police, intelligence agencies and other enforcement bodies.

Ring-tailed lemurs face serious conservation threats

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, which imposes strict restrictions on international commercial trade.

The alleged movement of the Gazipur lemurs from Bangladesh into India has therefore raised concerns about the vulnerability of endangered wildlife to international trafficking networks.

For Bangladesh, the immediate priority remains establishing whether the two lemurs at the Gujarat facility are indeed the animals stolen from Gazipur Safari Park. Because the animals reportedly lacked microchips, individual registration numbers and preserved DNA profiles, authorities are relying on available photographs, documentary evidence and potential genetic testing.

If the identities of the animals are conclusively established, the next challenge will be determining the legal and international process for their possible return to Bangladesh.

The case has also highlighted a wider lesson for wildlife conservation: protecting endangered animals does not end with keeping them inside a zoo, safari park or conservation centre. Proper identification, documentation, monitoring and international cooperation are equally important to prevent rare species from disappearing into illegal wildlife trade networks.

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