In a recent incident at Chennai airport, customs officials discovered six black-collared starlings dead in a passenger’s baggage, suspected to be a trial run by smugglers to test the alertness of authorities towards wildlife trafficking. The confiscated birds were not endangered species and were subsequently incinerated. This discovery comes amidst a series of successful busts signaling a proactive crackdown on smuggling activities. While these efforts have deterred illegal operations to some extent, international airports like Chennai remain on high alert to prevent such incidents in the future. The incident highlights the ongoing challenges faced by authorities in curbing wildlife trafficking and the importance of maintaining strict vigilance at all times.