Jagatsinghpur: In a major crackdown on illegal wildlife trade, forest officials in Jagatsinghpur district seized at least 19 turtles during a smuggling attempt near Chatua Chhak under Kujang police limits on Saturday.
According to official sources, forest personnel intercepted a man transporting the turtles for illegal sale in different markets and caught him red-handed. One person has been arrested in connection with the case, and further investigation is underway to trace other links in the smuggling network.
The seized turtles have been identified as Indian Softshell Turtles (Lissemys punctata), a protected species often targeted in the illegal wildlife trade. Officials estimated the total value of the seized turtles at around ₹2 lakh in the black market. Sources indicated that each turtle could fetch nearly ₹10,000 in cities like Bhubaneswar, with even higher prices reported in metropolitan markets such as Bengaluru.
Kujang forest Range Officer Sanjaya Pradhan said the accused was carrying the turtles in a plastic bag on a motorcycle when the team intercepted him near Chatua Chhak.
“The man was carrying around 19 turtles in a plastic bag. Our team immediately reached the spot and apprehended him,” Pradhan said.
Officials informed that the accused will be produced before a court, and following due legal procedures, the rescued turtles will be released into the Mahanadi River as per court orders.
The Forest Department reiterated its commitment to curbing wildlife trafficking and protecting endangered species, even as the incident underscores the persistent challenge of illegal wildlife trade in the region.
