Date:25/08/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/08/25/stories/2006082508330100.htm

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Star tortoises smuggled into Bangladesh

P. Oppili

Wildlife offenders are now using lesser-known routes

IN DEMAND: Star tortoises seized from a Malaysia bound passenger earlier this year.

CHENNAI: Going by recent evidence, wildlife offenders may have been using a less-known route to smuggle star tortoises abroad.

Last week, forest officials in Bangladesh detected a consignment of 1,600 star tortoises, often kept as pets in some Asian countries. Madras Crocodile Bank director Harry V. Andrews said on Wednesday that the news was conveyed by Tapan Kumar Dey, Director of Dulahazara Safari Park, Bangladesh, when he visited the Crocodile Bank. The tortoises were being kept at the Dulahazara Safari Park.

He said those responsible had informed Bangladesh Forest officials that the tortoises were all from south India. They were smuggled to Kolkata and were destined for Hong Kong.

Star tortoises of varied sizes, from adults to week-old hatchlings, were part of the smuggled consignment. Mr. Andrews said this was the first time a large consignment of star tortoises was seized in Bangladesh.

Wildlife biologists and researchers want Indian authorities to request the Bangladesh Government to return the star tortoises.

Star tortoises are found in the dry regions of north-western, south-eastern and south India.

Ashish Kumar Srivastav, Wildlife Warden, Chennai, said in the last couple of years the smuggling of star tortoises through the Chennai airport had come down drastically. Joint efforts of the Deputy Director of Wildlife, Southern region, State wildlife authorities and customs authorities to curb smuggling had forced smugglers to find alternative routes to smuggle these star tortoises.