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1,000 tortoises seized from smugglers by Bengaluru customs
OFFICERS from the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) in Bengaluru, India have seized 1,012 live tortoises worth US$615,000 on the international market and arrested the mastermind of a racket involved in the smuggling of endangered wild life.
The officers acted on a tip off that endangered wild life was being smuggled through Chennai air cargo. Following an intense surveillance operation, the officers intercepted two vehicles at Attibele Toll on the outskirts of the city. During a search, it was found that one of the cars was carrying 1,012 live turtles/tortoises of different species, DRI officials stated, reported Deccan Chronicle.
"The seized tortoises included red eared slider, which is one of the 100 most invasive species listed by International Union for Conservation of Nature. In all, there were 852 Indian star tortoise, 76 tricarinate hill turtle, 46 Peter (Melanchelys tricarinata), 11 red-eared slider and 27 Indian tent turtle. These turtles were separately packed in seven travel bags," an official said.
Investigations revealed that the mastermind of the operation is a pet and aqua shop owner in Bengaluru. During preliminary investigations, he admitted that he, in collaboration with some other unknown persons, illegally procured these endangered live species from various natural habitat located at Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Karnataka and smuggled them into countries like Hong Kong through Chennai.
The Karnataka Forest Department has taken possession of the tortoises for rehabilitation. The live tortoises will receive adequate veterinary care and be suitably rehabilitated before they can be considered fit for release into their natural habitat.
The officers acted on a tip off that endangered wild life was being smuggled through Chennai air cargo. Following an intense surveillance operation, the officers intercepted two vehicles at Attibele Toll on the outskirts of the city. During a search, it was found that one of the cars was carrying 1,012 live turtles/tortoises of different species, DRI officials stated, reported Deccan Chronicle.
"The seized tortoises included red eared slider, which is one of the 100 most invasive species listed by International Union for Conservation of Nature. In all, there were 852 Indian star tortoise, 76 tricarinate hill turtle, 46 Peter (Melanchelys tricarinata), 11 red-eared slider and 27 Indian tent turtle. These turtles were separately packed in seven travel bags," an official said.
Investigations revealed that the mastermind of the operation is a pet and aqua shop owner in Bengaluru. During preliminary investigations, he admitted that he, in collaboration with some other unknown persons, illegally procured these endangered live species from various natural habitat located at Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Karnataka and smuggled them into countries like Hong Kong through Chennai.
The Karnataka Forest Department has taken possession of the tortoises for rehabilitation. The live tortoises will receive adequate veterinary care and be suitably rehabilitated before they can be considered fit for release into their natural habitat.
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