GUWAHATI: 31 live specimens of the critically endangered Channa Barca fish were recovered by personnel from the Assam Forest Department, Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB), and the Government Railway Police Force (GRPF) on October 2. The operation took place at the Guwahati Railway Station, with authorities intercepting the smuggled fish.
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The live fish were stored in two sealed cartons. These smuggled ornamental fish cost about ₹2-3 lakh each in the international market. Sources in Assam Forest Deptt stated that these fishes are smuggled from Orang and sent to West Bengal en route to South Asia.
Three persons have been arrested and sent to judicial custody in this regard. Each recovered fish weighed about 700 gram.
Kamrup (M) Forest Department and Orang National Park are jointly investigating the matter.
Locally known as Pipli Cheng or Ceng Garaka, the Channa Barca fish is endemic to the upper Brahmaputra basin and parts of Bangladesh. Its survival is under threat due to habitat loss and illegal capture for commercial purposes. This freshwater species, prized for its rarity and vibrant appearance, is classified as "critically endangered" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
Officials have not yet disclosed the origins or intended destination of the seized fish.
Further investigation into the case is underway.