Forest officials of Alluri Sitaramaraju district seized more than 200 turtles which are being illegally transported. (Representational Image)
Visakhapatnam: Forest officials in Alluri Sitarama Raju district seized 278 turtles being transported illegally early on Saturday at 1:35 a.m. Karthik Mandal from Pollur Village, Chintur Mandal, and Balina Sai Krishna from Jagannadhapuram Village, Korukonda, were apprehended while transporting the turtles from Amalapuram to 79 villages in Orissa.
Officials became suspicious upon spotting a vehicle in the Sukumamidi North Beat within the Lakkavaram forest area. The vehicle, upon inspection, was found to contain 8 jute bags with the turtles. Of the 278 turtles, 33 had died and 245 were alive. The accused were arrested and charged under the Wild Life (Protection) Act of 1972. The vehicle and turtles were confiscated and taken to the forest office, where the live turtles were later released into the Seeleru River.
( Source : Deccan Chronicle )
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