Two rare turtles recovered, freed in Kirtankhola River
Staff Reporter, Barisal
Bangladesh Coast Guard and Forest Department in Barisal recovered rare species of two turtles in the city and later released those into the Kirtankhola River on Sunday afternoon.
Tapash Kumar Sarker, Barisal Sadar upazila forest officer, said acting on tip-off a turtle, weighing about 50kg, was recovered from DC Ghat area of Barisal city and let go of it into the river. Miscreants, who managed to flee the scene, were trying to smuggle the reptile to Jhalakati, he added.
However, smugglers managed to catch that again from Dapdapia Bridge area at noon. Anisur Rahman, contingent commander of Coast Guard, said getting information from the forest department, they rushed to the spot but the miscreants managed to flee the scene, leaving the turtle in a sack. Then the recovered turtle was released into the Kirtankhola River in presence of Nazmul Hossain Khan, assistant commissioner (land) and forest official.
On other hand, upazila forest officer Tapash Sarker said another turtle, weighing about 40kg, was also recovered from DC ghat area while miscreants trying to smuggle it to Bhola on Sunday noon. This turtle was also freed into the Kirtankhola, he said.
Such large sized turtles which are now rarely seen in the freshwater river are becoming extinct, the forest officer said, adding that catching, smuggling and carrying any species of this turtles are banned under Wildlife Conservation Act.
