(IN): Wildlife thieves planned to sell haul on Internet

July 23, 2008

Link:

n_Internet/articleshow/3265000.cms

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Wildlife thieves planned to sell haul on Internet*

22 Jul 2008, 1652 hrs IST,AFP

KOLKATA: Two Czech scientists arrested in India for stealing rare butterfly

and insect species were planning to sell them on the Internet, an official

said on Tuesday.

Emil Kucera, 52, and Petr Svacha, 51, were arrested last month at a hotel in

Darjeeling in eastern India where officials say they were caught with more

than 50 species of butterflies and rare insects, captured from a national

park.

The pair appeared in court on Monday and were denied bail, assistant

divisional forest officer Utpal Nag said, adding that their next court

appearance was set for July 23.

" We have received copies of material downloaded by them from the Internet

that reveal their intention, " he said, adding that Svacha had posted a note

online offering to sell the butterflies for a specified price.

" They are not as ignorant as they claim. A pen drive seized from the two

Czech nationals contains the map of the Singalllia National Park where they

were collecting insects and butterflies, " Nag said.

The pair, who deny the charges, have received support from the international

scientific community and a petition with more than 500 signatures demanding

their release has been presented to the Indian prime minister.

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United against elephant polo

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