Officials said possession of the crocodile skull violates India’s Wildlife Protection Act and Customs Act.
An analysis of the skull by the Department of Forests and Wildlife revealed that it belonged to a species protected under the Indian Wildlife Protection Act.
“The texture, tooth pattern, well-developed bony palate and nostrils confirmed that this object was the skull of a baby crocodile,” they said.
The forester told the Times of India newspaper, external that the man allegedly purchased the skull in Thailand.
“The man did not have the mandatory permit to transport wildlife items,” said forest ranger Rajesh Tandon.
Man too told the officers that he did not hunt or kill the crocodile, externalreports Hindustan Times.
Further research is being done to determine the exact subspecies of the animal.
Meanwhile, Delhi Customs says that a case has been registered against the man and an investigation is underway.
Last year, a 32-year-old Canadian woman was stopped at Delhi airport after the horns of an unidentified animal were found in her luggage. The woman told officials that she picked them up while hiking in the northern Ladakh region and decided to take them back as souvenirs.
