This story is from August 6, 2017

Forest department unsure whether ‘deer musk’ seized is real

Forest department unsure whether ‘deer musk’ seized is real
KOCHI: Amid concerns that the city is turning into a smuggling hub for wildlife products, senior forest officials warned that there were also a bunch of fraudsters in the market who duped people by selling fake imitations of extremely-rare wildlife products by charging exorbitant amounts.
Less than a week after wildlife crime control bureau nabbed a person who sought Rs 20 crore for deer musk, jackal horn and a king shell, forest officials will approach the centre for cellular and molecular biology in Hyderabad to prove the authenticity of the seized product.

A senior forest official – on condition of anonymity – said that the ‘deer musk’ is most probably a rolled up ball of fur that was used to dupe people.
“The man was obviously running a scam by luring people who were willing to pay exorbitant amounts for such products. The presence of a ‘jackal horn’ (a boney cone-shaped excrescence believed to grow on the skulls of jackals) – which is used in black magic – gives us an idea of the clientele,” he said. Wildlife products seized in Kochi over the past one month include tusks, antelope’s horns, sandalwood, jackal’s horn, king shell and ‘deer musk’.
Wildlife crime control bureau sources said suspicion grew after the product failed a preliminary water test. “After primary examination, the jackal horn and king shell seemed original. The texture of deer musk seemed original, but it failed a preliminary water test. These inferences can only be proved after a lab report,” said an officer with the wildlife crime control bureau.
Sources said there were rackets running in the state that sold fake wildlife products. “The racket in Kochi produces fake goods that are almost as good as the original. These fraudsters focus on tiger nails and skins,” said the source.

Officers with the bureau added: “The pods seemed original from outside. Also, there was a prior instance where the lab report on a seized product verified its authenticity.”
But, wildlife crime control bureau assistant director in-charge Madhivanan A maintained that the case was handed over to forest department. Forest range officer (Athirappilly) Delto Marokey said the case is now under the consideration of court. “The seized goods would be sent to the lab in Hyderabad after getting permission from the court,” he said.
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