Malkangiri: In a significant breakthrough to combat wildlife smuggling, the Forest Department on Friday seized a consignment of 473 live turtles in the Motu Forest section area in Malkangiri while being illegally transported.
Although the smugglers managed to escape, the forest officials successfully seized the turtles and the vehicle used for transportation.
The operation was carried out based on a tip-off from reliable sources. A team led by M. V-79 Ranger Rashmi Ranjan Swain, along with Forester Murali Angulia and other forest department staff, laid a trap at the Motu checkpoint.
At around 3 am, when the smugglers arrived in a vehilce, the officials intercepted the vehicle and discovered the turtles hidden in 13 sacks. The turtles were being transported from Andhra Pradesh to Odisha. The occupants in the vehicle managed to flee the spot.
The seized turtles and the Bolero vehicle have been taken into custody and are currently being kept at the M. V-79 forest office. The forest department is conducting further investigation into the matter.
