WILDLIFE SMUGGLING TO INDIA

494 turtles recovered, 3 held

Forest officials and Rapid Action Battalion in a joint drive detained three smugglers and recovered 494 turtles while being smuggled for the pet trade or for consumption as meat in India. Divisional Forest Officer Madinul Islam of Wildlife Management Nature Conservation Division of Khulna range said three persons — Prodip Kumar Baroi and Shuvadev Roy along with the pickup driver Masum Mollah — had been arrested on suspicion of wildlife trafficking as their pickup was found to have contained the protected turtles in eight drums.

Acting on a tip-off our officials and RAB members intercepted the pickup at Zero Point in Khulna in the wee hours of Saturday and the turtles were poached from Agailjhara of Barisal, he added.

The arrested were produced before court after filing cases against them under Wildlife (Conservation and Security) Act. Once the legal procedures are complete the turtles will be handed over to the Dhaka Zoo authorities.

WILDLIFE SMUGGLING TO INDIA

494 turtles recovered, 3 held

Forest officials and Rapid Action Battalion in a joint drive detained three smugglers and recovered 494 turtles while being smuggled for the pet trade or for consumption as meat in India. Divisional Forest Officer Madinul Islam of Wildlife Management Nature Conservation Division of Khulna range said three persons Prodip Kumar Baroi and Shuvadev Roy along with the pickup driver Masum Mollah had been arrested on suspicion of wildlife trafficking as their pickup was found to have contained the protected turtles in eight drums. Acting on a tip-off our officials and RAB members intercepted the pickup at Zero Point in Khulna in the wee hours of Saturday and the turtles were poached from Agailjhara of Barisal, he added. The arrested were produced before court after filing cases against them under Wildlife (Conservation and Security) Act. Once the legal procedures are complete the turtles will be handed over to the Dhaka Zoo authorities.