397 tortoises seized at Foulkspeta forest range

Rampachodavaram: Foulkspeta forest range officials on Saturday seized 397 tortoises near Suddagommu village of Rampachodavaram of Alluri Sitarama Raju district. The divisional forest officer G.G. Narentheran told the media that the tortoises were being taken in drinking water ponds to Odisha from Dr.B.R. Ambedkar Konaseema and West Godavari districts.

In Odisha, some sections of people eat tortoise meat, he said and added that this was the second time within one month after 1,619 tortoises were caught and released into Suddagadda reservoir earlier.

The seized tortoises would be released into Godavari river, he said and added that the tortoises were included in Schedule-I Animal list and if anybody carries tortoises, they would face imprisonment up to seven years. The accused fled away from the spot and search is on to nab them. The deputy range officer J. Sujatha, forest range officer M. Karunakar, forest officials Manikyam, Subhadra, Manohar, Durga Srinu and others were present during the raid.