Two persons were caught with 35 young turtles by the Forest Department in Dehradun on Thursday. The department has sent the turtles for identification to the Wildlife Institute of India but it is believed that the seized turtles are Schedule I species and were destined to be sold to aquarium shops in the State capital.
According to the Dehradun divisional forest officer Sushant Patnaik, based on a tip off, the department personnel nabbed two men in the Niranjanpur area with a total of 35 turtles. Samples have been sent to the Wildlife Institute of India to ascertain the species after which the investigation in the case will progress further. TRAFFIC India had provided information to additional principal chief conservator of forests Jai Raj about two persons smuggling baby turtles less than a year old to Dehradun. The forest department then sprung into action to seize the wildlife contraband. According to sources, the turtle hatchlings are bought for cheap from local fishermen by middlemen who sell each of the reptiles to aquarium shops in Dehradun for up to Rs300 per turtle. The aquarium shops in turn sell each of the reptiles for up to Rs2,500. Wildlife activists state that there are more than two dozen aquarium shops in the State capital and 60 per cent of people with aquariums in their homes or offices have turtles.
The turtles seized from the two men in Dehradun on Thursday are believed to be two spotted pond turtles and 33 Indian tent turtles (both Schedule I animals), though the species of the seized reptiles will be ascertained by the WII.