1,583 turtles rescued, 2 smugglers arrested

LUCKNOW :UP Special Task Force (STF) claimed to have unearthed a major nexus of wildlife smugglers after rescuing as many as 1,583 turtles of endangered species, locally known as Sundari (Indian flap shell turtle) , and arresting two persons from Banthra area here on Friday. The recovered species are protected under schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act. They are illegally used for making medicines and consumption, said an STF official.

The STF officials said the recovered turtles were meant for smuggling to Southeast Asian countries via Bangladesh after being transported to West Bengal. They said the turtles were collected from canals and rivers of western UP like Etawah, Etah and Mainpuri by local fishermen and sold to poachers of West Bengal at a premium .

Deputy superintendent of police (DSP) of STF Satya Sen said the arrested poachers were identified as Sushanto Sarkar of 24 Pargana, West Bengal and Saif Ali of Etawah. He said Sarkar had links with many fishermen of Etawah and nearby districts from whom he had purchased the turtles. He was taking them to West Bengal in a truck when the STF team intercepted him in Banthra.

He said the STF team was accompanied by wildlife experts. he also said a joint team of the STF and the forest department had been deployed to monitor the activities of local fishermen in the swamps of Kali river in western UP .