Four Toco Toucans that were allegedly being smuggled from Bangladesh were rescued early on Thursday by a team of BSF personnel, an officer said.

Toco Toucans are also called Giant Toucans because they are the largest among their species. The birds grow up to a length of 25 inch and their beaks can be 7.5-inch long.

They are found in Central and South America.

The birds were being allegedly smuggled from Bangladesh near the Khararmath border outpost in Gaighata, North 24-Parganas. A BSF team saw some men moving suspiciously. They were carrying a box covered with cloth.

On being challenged by the BSF team, the men dropped the box and ran deep inside a forested area. “Our men found the four birds crammed inside,” a BSF officer said.

The forest department identified the birds as Toco Toucans. All four birds were handed over to the Alipore zoo hospital. A zoo official said they would be quarantined for at least a fortnight.

Bapai Sen, a member of the All Bengal Birds Lover Organisation, said there was a demand for Toco Toucans as pets. “A pair can cost more than Rs 18 lakh. There are only three birds with the city's collectors now,” said Sen.