Some animals were wrapped in paper, others in plastic containers.

Bangkok:

Thai customs officials this week rescued a red panda, snakes, monkeys and chameleons from checked luggage after arresting six Indian citizens trying to smuggle them at the country’s main airport.

A total of 87 species of reptiles and mammals were found in the luggage, including chameleons, snakes, large-billed parrots, red-eyed squirrels, bats and monkeys.

Photos from customs at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport showed some animals wrapped in paper and others in plastic containers.

The six people were arrested on Monday and were preparing to travel to Mumbai, authorities said in a statement.

Illegal wildlife trafficking is widespread in Thailand, which borders four countries, and customs officials in Suvarnabhumi often seize reptiles and small animals in luggage.

Countries such as China, Myanmar and Thailand have high demand for animal products, which are used in traditional medicine or for direct consumption.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)