The Delhi Police on Thursday recovered four turtles lying abandoned near Kashmere gate on Thursday. These three turtles are rarest of rare species and generally found in northeast India.
According to a senior police official, on Thursday specific inputs were received regarding the turtles near Municipal Corporation Delhi (MCD) parking in Mori Gate area.
"Acting on the specific inputs police team reached the spot and found four turtles, which were kept in a cardboard box in abounded condition. The police team informed Wildlife Crime Control Bureau and inspection was done by them," said the senior police official.
"Wildlife Crime Control Bureau identified three turtles (out of four) as 'Indian Tent Turtle' (Kachuga tecta tecta) which is listed in schedule I of Wildlife Protection Act, 1962," he said.
"These 3 turtles are of rarest of rare species. Possession of this species of turtles is strictly prohibited as it a scheduled species as per Wildlife Protection Act, 1972," the senior police official said.
"So far there is no inputs regarding the person who brought them. Police teams are scanning CCTV cameras in the area to identify the culprits. Meanwhile, the turtles have been handed over to the officials of Delhi Zoo," the police officer said.