The Assam Special Task Force intercepted nine wildlife traffickers in Chirang, rescuing a troop of endangered golden langurs bound for the international black market.

GUWAHATI, June 25 — Seven endangered golden langurs are back in the trees of Sikhna Jwhwlao National Park tonight. The Assam Special Task Force pulled the rare primates from a smuggling ring in Chirang district during a midnight raid on June 19. Police estimate the black-market value of the cargo at ₹16 lakh. Nine men won’t be cashing in; they now sit in police custody.

But they didn’t all make it.

Veterinarians couldn’t save one of the langurs. It died from severe trauma sustained during the violent capture. Forest officials confirmed the traffickers originally trapped the troop in Kokrajhar’s Ultapani area, planning to funnel the endangered cargo through intermediaries to wealthy buyers.

“This isn’t just casual local poaching; it’s a well-funded, transnational syndicate bleeding our endemic wildlife dry,” RootsAlert Editor Shubhankar Shukla stated. And he’s absolutely right about the stakes. The golden langur exists strictly in Western Assam and neighbouring Bhutan, with India’s 2024 census logging a mere 7,396 individuals remaining.

So how do nine local men manage to move such highly visible, vulnerable animals across heavily monitored district lines? They operate on deep networks and exploit porous forest borders. An unnamed police official confirmed the STF acted on specific, real-time intelligence to execute the midnight intercept. They’ve since handed the suspects over to the Forest Department to dismantle the wider interstate network.

Assam Forest Minister Jayanta Mallabaruah didn’t wait long to publicise the victory. He took to X on Thursday, announcing the release of the seven survivors after strict scientific monitoring by veterinary teams. He framed the operation as proof of the state’s zero-tolerance policy for wildlife crime.

The black market rarely returns what it steals.