Dhenkanal: In a major breakthrough Tuesday afternoon, the forest personnel of Dhenkanal division rescued a rare species of turtle which was packed in a well-stitched sack from Sadangi forest range and arrested a man on charge of unlawfully possessing the reptile.
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According to the department sources, the arrested was identified as Bhramarabar Tarai of Talakasipur village and the turtle was found hidden in his backyard. He was forwarded to a local court.
Notably, the turtle was later released into the Brahmani River by forest officials as the rescued reptile is listed as an endangered species.
“Acting on a tip-off, we rescued a rare species of Indian narrow-headed soft-shell turtle (biologically known as Chitra Indica). It is a red-listed and IUCN endangered species under the Schedule of Wildlife Protection Act. The reptile weighed around 30kg. We released it into the Brahmani River and arrested a man in this connection”, Dhenkanal DFO Prakash Chandra Gogineni expressed.
PNN