Around 654 flapshell turtles of India were found in a pond in UP’s Etawah district yesterday. Of the 654 turtles, 482 were recovered dead and rest were found to be severely sick.
The turtles belonged to the Lissemys punctata species that has been an endangered species under the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 and International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List of Threatened Species.
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The Forest Department raided the area and recovered all the turtles. The smugglers, however, managed to escape from the spot.
Based on the Forest Department report, Sundhari, the local name for the turtles, were trapped from different locations by a smuggler gang.
Raj Kapoor, the head of the gang hid the turtle in the pond on fearing the arrest. The Forest Department and the local police of Etawah launched the operation and found the turtles.
(With inputs from ANI)