A Canadian who was carrying a crocodile skull was arrested at the Delhi airport

Indian authorities say they have arrested a Canadian man at Delhi airport for carrying a crocodile skull in his luggage.

The 32-year-old man was at the airport on Monday to catch a flight to Canada when he was stopped for the first time during a security check.

“Upon examination, a skull with sharp teeth resembling the jawbone of a baby crocodile, weighing about 777 g (1.71 lb) was found wrapped in a cream colored cloth,” the Delhi Customs said in a statement on Thursday.

The man was detained, and the skull was handed over to the Department of Forestry and Wildlife Protection.

Officials said possession of the crocodile skull violates India’s Wildlife Protection Act and Customs Act.

Analysis of the skull by the Department of Forests and Wildlife revealed that it belonged to a species protected under the Indian Wildlife Protection Act.

“The texture, tooth pattern, well-developed bony palate and nostrils confirmed that this object is the skull of a baby crocodile,” they said.

The forester told the Times of India newspaper that the man allegedly purchased the skull in Thailand.

“The man did not have the mandatory permit for transporting wildlife items,” said forest ranger Rajesh Tandon.

Man too told the officers that he did not hunt or kill the crocodilereports Hindustan Times.

Further research is being done to determine the exact subspecies of the animal.

Meanwhile, Delhi Customs says that a case has been registered against the man and an investigation is underway.

Last year, a 32-year-old Canadian woman was stopped at Delhi airport after the horns of an unknown animal were found in her luggage. The woman told officials that she picked them up while hiking in the northern Ladakh region and decided to take them back as souvenirs.