INDIA: AUTHORITIES IN CALCUTTA SEIZE MORE THAN 1,400 RARE TORTOISES BELONGING TO ENDANGERED SPECIES BEING SMUGGLED OUT OF THE COUNTRY

Record ID: 859286

  • Title: INDIA: AUTHORITIES IN CALCUTTA SEIZE MORE THAN 1,400 RARE TORTOISES BELONGING TO ENDANGERED SPECIES BEING SMUGGLED OUT OF THE COUNTRY
  • Date: 25th August 2000
  • Summary: CALCUTTA, WEST BENGAL, INDIA (AUGUST 25, 2000) (ANI) EXTERIOR OF THE PLACE WHERE TORTOISES ARE KEPT SEIZED INDIAN STAR TORTOISES VARIOUS OF TORTOISES TORTOISES IN WATER A BABY TORTOISE WALKING CURIOUS PEOPLE WATCHING A MAN CLEANING A BABY TORTOISE CLOSE-UP OF MAN'S HANDS RUBBING SHELL (SOUNDBITE) (English) DIVISIONAL FOREST OFFICER A.N. BHATTACHARYA SAYING: "On the 24th of August, GRP (General Railway Police) have intercepted a large consignment of Indian star tortoises. The consignment was booked from Bangalore up to Burdwan. Fortunately, one or two tortoises came out of gunny bags. Police then stopped the consignment and informed us." A TORTOISE STRUGGLING TO COME OUT OF WATER (SOUNDBITE) (English) DIVISIONAL FOREST OFFICER A.N. BHATTACHARYA: "The name of this species is Geogeochelone elegance. It is a rare species and endangered too. It is listed in Schedule 4 of the Wild Life Act." SEVERAL TORTOISES .
  • Embargoed: 9th September 2000 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: CALCUTTA, WEST BENGAL, INDIA
  • City:
  • Country: India
  • Topics: Environment,Quirky,Light / Amusing / Unusual / Quirky
  • Reuters ID: LVAR9AD75VK1HRP4D387RO29WNZ
  • Aspect Ratio:
  • Story Text: Authorities in the eastern Indian city of Calcutta have seized more than 1,400 rare tortoises belonging to an endangered species being smuggled out of the country.
    Authorities seized the consignment of 1,428 Indian star tortoises being smuggled out of the country, on Thursday (August 24).
    The consignment, booked on the Coramandal express train from Bangalore in the southern Indian state of Karnataka, was on its way to Burdwan in the eastern state of West Bengal.
    When the train reached Burdwan, the Railway police officials became suspicious after they had seen a couple of baby tortoises sneaking out of gunny bags.
    The police immediately seized the consignment and put the tortoises in the custody of forest officials in Calcutta.
    "On the 24th of August, GRP (General Railway Police) have intercepted a large consignment of Indian star tortoises. The consignment was booked from Bangalore up to Burdwan.
    Fortunately, one or two tortoises came out of gunny bags.
    Police then stopped the consignment and informed us," said A.N. Bhattacharya, Divisional Forest Officer.
    There is a huge demand for these rare species of tortoises, having distinct star marks on their shells, in the international market. They are used as pets and serve as a delicacy in the west.
    Bhattacharya said the animals were protected under law and it was a criminal offence to trade them.
    "The name of this species is Geogeochelone elegance. It is a rare species and endangered, too. It is listed in Schedule 4 of the Wild Life act," he said.
    Bhattacharya said, out of 1,428 tortoises, about 500 are adults. They are kept at Salt lake in the city, but officials said the tortoises were not comfortable in the hot and humid climate of Calcutta and some were not even touching food.
    Authorities are planning to send them to their natural habitat in Bangalore as soon as possible.
    Bangalore has become a fertile poaching centre for star tortoises. In December 1999, police seized around 3,000 tortoises in two separate consignments before they could be smuggled out of the country.
    From Bangalore, these animals are usually transported to Calcutta and then shipped abroad.

    (lh/db)
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