Over 400 rare breed turtles seized, 4 arrested

Over 400 Terrapins, a rare breed of turtles, have been seized and four persons arrested in this regard in Tuticorin district, DRI officials said today.
Acting on a tip-off that 477 turtles, all alive, were allegedly being smuggled to Sri Lanka from a coastal village in Tuticorin district, DRI officials searched a car in a village and seized 23 bags containing the turtles recently.
"A total of 477 turtles, all alive, were found to be stuffed in 23 bags loaded in the vehicle," a DRI release said.
Terrapins are small turtles, classified under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 as an endangered species. They live in fresh water.

These turtles are smuggled for the meat and some fetch a "very high price" in the international market, DRI officials said.
Forest officials identified the turtles to be of 'Spotted Black' and 'Eastern Hill' varieties.
Thameem Ansari, M Mani, Abdul Rahman and Keyton Kumar, all from Chennai, were arrested and remanded to judicial custody, the release said.
The seized turtles were handed over to Forest officials for releasing them in their natural habitat, it added.