SMUGGLED TURTLES AIRLIFTED BACK HOME
LUCKNOW: Over 260 beautiful and tiny turtles returned to their home state Uttar Pradesh on Sunday in a flight from Hyderabad, Telangana where they were smuggled.
In all, 266 rescued Indian Tent Turtle (pangshura tentoria circumdata) and India Roofed Turtle (pangshura tecta) were airlifted from Hyderabad to Lucknow by the forest department and Turtle Survival Alliance (TSA).
“These species of turtles are poached to cater to the demand of illegal pet trade. Both species are sympatric and found in Gomti river and its associated wetland, where one prefers flowing water and the other stagnant pools,” said Shailendra Singh, director, TSA India, Lucknow.
LUCKNOW: Over 260 beautiful and tiny turtles returned to their home state Uttar Pradesh on Sunday in a flight from Hyderabad, Telangana where they were smuggled.
In all, 266 rescued Indian Tent Turtle (pangshura tentoria circumdata) and India Roofed Turtle (pangshura tecta) were airlifted from Hyderabad to Lucknow by the forest department and Turtle Survival Alliance (TSA).
“These species of turtles are poached to cater to the demand of illegal pet trade as they look very pretty and are suitable for household aquariums. Both species are sympatric and found in Gomti river and its associated wetland, where one prefers flowing water and the other stagnant pools near and within the river,” said Shailendra Singh, director, TSA India, Lucknow.
This is the second time that rescued turtles were airlifted back to Uttar Pradesh. A similar operation was done in 2015, when over 500 Spotted Pond Turtles were airlifted from Mumbai to Lucknow for rehabilitation.
These turtles were confiscated in August and two the offenders detained in Hyderabad confessed to have poached them from the Gomti river near Lucknow.
After an 8-hour journey via Delhi, the turtles were received by Alok Pandey, sub divisional officer, range officer, city and Arunima Singh, biologist of TSA in Lucknow.
“The turtles were temporarily housed in the Nehru Zoological Park, Hyderabad in safe custody until court orders and legal proceedings were over, ,” said Arunima. She said that pangshura tecta belonged to Schedule 1 of the India Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972.
The health of the turtles would be assessed and they would be quarantined for 29 days at the laboratory for aquatic biology at Kukrail Gharial Centre, said Ravi Singh, divisional forest officer.