Lucknow: The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), Zonal Unit, Lucknow, seized 436 baby Indian Tent Turtles from a person who was illegally transporting them to West Bengal through Varanasi by road in a bus for further supply in the grey market.
The person had received the consignment of baby Gangetic turtles in Kanpur. The DRI officers in Varanasi stopped and searched the said bus and arrested the person along with the turtles in the early hours yesterday. All 436 baby Indian Tent Turtles were rescued.
After the initial seizure under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, the case was handed over to the Forest Department, Varanasi, for further investigation.
The Indian Tent Turtle is a protected species under Schedule 1 of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.
This financial year to date, DRI, Lucknow has rescued 1721 babies of Gangetic Turtles in 5 separate cases. Illegal trade and habitat degradation are major threats to these species, the DRI stated.
– global bihari bureau
