LONDON: British officials have seized an illegal shipment of 50 live crocodiles at London Heathrow Airport, the UK Border Force said Friday.
The year-old juvenile saltwater crocodiles were found crammed into five boxes coming from Malaysia.
The were bound for a farm in Cambridgeshire, eastern England, where they were to be bred for their meat.
The animals had not been packed in accordance with international regulations, making the importation illegal.
Each box only had room for four crocodiles but 10 had been packed into each one.
"It is just not acceptable for reptiles to be transported in this way," said Grant Miller, head of the national Border Force Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) at Heathrow.
"The crocodiles had started to fight each other during the flight as space was limited, so little attention had been paid to their welfare.
"We will seize anything that contravenes CITES regulations, so this should serve as a warning to those thinking about transporting wildlife in such conditions."
The crocodiles were found on April 27. One has since died and the others are being cared for before being rehomed.
50 live crocodiles from Malaysia seized at London airport
50 live crocodiles from Malaysia seized at London airport
Buddhist monks rally in Sri Lanka to pressure the government for a wider role in affairs of state
- The protest passed without any reported violence
- The charter also states that the government has an obligation to protect and foster Buddhism
COLOMBO: Hundreds of Buddhist monks rallied in the capital of Sri Lanka on Friday to protest alleged government disrespect of their religion and disregard for a long-standing tradition that they be consulted in matters of state.
The protest passed without any reported violence.
The constitution of the island nation of around 22 million people states that Buddhism is the state religion, though freedom of religion is protected by law. The charter also states that the government has an obligation to protect and foster Buddhism.
More than 70 percent of the population is Buddhist and their clergy are influential in social, cultural and political affairs. There are also minority Hindus, Muslims and Christians living in Sri Lanka.
The monks at the protest in Colombo read out an appeal note they said would be sent to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.
The note said the responsibility of the government in the island nation is to base its values on the principles of Buddhism, which emerged in the 5th century B.C. in ancient India, and recognize the right of the clergy to counsel in the affairs of the state.
It also urged for excluding non-Buddhists from top office in Sri Lanka, incorporating Buddhist values in schools and the education system and protecting all archaeological sites connected to the religion.
The appeal is likely part of the efforts by the monks to pressure the government.
