THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Coast Guard has arrested four persons under the Wildlife Conservation Act, for trying to smuggle sea cucumbers. A military spokesman said that the detainees were sea cucumber hunters.

They were arrested in a joint operation headed by Coastguard and Kavaratti coastguard, held in both land and air by coastguard ship 'Samar'. 30 alive cucumbers and a boat named 'Blue Water' used for smuggling were seized. This is part of the Coast Guard's efforts to curb smuggling in the Indian Ocean. Sea cucumbers worth lakhs in the international market.

Sea cucumbers are cucumber-shaped creature with elongated appearance. They have black, red and yellow stripes are seen in the body. It can be easily found even in the deep ocean. Length from 3 mm to 3 m. They are endangered species of corals who lives at the bottom of the ocean. Used as medicine for cancer in Chinese medicine.

Sea cucumbers are extremely protected species under the Wildlife Conservation Act, such as tigers, leopards and elephants. Hunting and capturing these are prohibited.