Owls may be considered inauspicious by some in Kerala, but the nocturnal bird is an indispensable part of occult practices in rural Karnataka and some northern States. It is often sacrificed to ‘ward off’ bad luck, while there are communities that still follow the superstitious custom of dabbing its blood on the main entrance of commercial establishments.
Red sand boa, locally known as ‘iruthala moori’, is supposed to bring prosperity and the reptile continues to be a fancy item among poachers.
Both have high demand in trafficking circles and they are frequently spotted at clandestine virtual platforms where they are sold for exorbitant prices. Despite strict preventive and enforcement measures in place, wildlife traders are using social media and private online groups to market protected species. According to Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB), while everything from pangolins to musk pods are available, many products being sold are fake.
