Red panda found inside suspected smugglers' luggage at Thailand airport

Customs officials in Thailand rescued an entire zoo worth of animals this week in an airport smuggling bust. 

Officers in Bangkok discovered snakes, monkeys, chameleons, and a red panda stashed in checked luggage at the city's main airport. 

Six men of Indian nationality were arrested at Suvarnabhumi Airport following the discovery of the rare wildlife in baskets and bags.

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A confiscated red panda is seen inside luggage at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport after authorities arrested Indian national passengers who had tried to smuggle wildlife out of Thailand. (Thai Customs Department/Handout via REUTERS   )

Approximately 87 animals of various species were discovered in the baggage. 

Besides the panda and monkeys, authorities discovered exotic parrots, squirrels, and bats. 

The wildlife — most likely intended to be sold overseas to illicit buyers, carried in a variety of containers — was bound for Mumbai before police intervened.

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Passengers seen at Suvarnabhumi International Airport. Six Indian nationals were arrested at the airport's customs area after officials discovered a collection of exotic animals in bins, baskets, and paper wrappings. (Peerapon Boonyakiat/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

The red panda was sealed in a wicker basket, while others were kept in paper wrappings and plastic bins.

The illicit practice of wildlife trafficking has become a big business moving in and out of Southeast Asia.

Animals as large as orangutans are frequently recovered by customs agents in sting operations aimed at fighting the inhumane black market for exotic animals.

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Two Sumatran orangutans are transported to an airport customs dock in cages before they are repatriated from Thailand to Indonesia after having been smuggled into the kingdom at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok. (LILLIAN SUWANRUMPHA/AFP via Getty Images)

Exotic species are often purchased by traffickers for use as pets or to harvest for cuisine or medicine in countries such as China and Myanmar.