Jubilee Post News & Views
Jubilee News Desk
Second time in state’s history of repatriating rescued wildlife, 266 rescued Indian Tent Turtle (Pangshura tentoria circumdata) and India Roofed Turtle (Pangshura tecta) were airlifted from Hyderabad Telangana to Lucknow.
Earlier a similar exercise was done in 2015 when turtles were brought home via flight from Maharastra.
In early August, these turtles were confiscated and the two offenders detained in Hyderabad, Telangana state confessed to have poached these turtles from Gomti River near Lucknow.
Turtles were temporarily housed in Nehru Zoological Park, Hyderabad in safe custody until the court orders and legal proceedings were in place, said a press statement from the Turtle Survival Alliance (TSA).
After 8 hours journey via Delhi, turtles were received by Alok Pandey, Sub Divisional Officer, Lucknow, Range Officer, City and Arunima Singh, Biologist of TSA in Lucknow.
Ravi Singh, DFO said that these turtles will be health assessed and quarantined for 29 days at UPFD/TSA Laboratory for Aquatic Biology at Kukrail Gharial Centre. Dr Shailendra Singh, Director, TSA India, Lucknow said that these species of turtles are poached to cater the demand of illegal pet trade as they look very pretty and make “suitable” candidates for household aquariums. Both species are sympatric and found in Gomti River and its associated wetland, where one prefers flowing water while another stagnant pools near and within the river.
Arunima Singh informed that P. tecta belong to Schedule 1 of the India Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972. First such repatriation was conducted by UPFD and TSA in 2015 when both the organizations flew over 500 Spotted Pond Turtles from Maharastra for rehabilitation in wild.
