Karnataka - Bangalore

Star tortoises yet to reach Bannerghatta

— FILE Photo: M. Karunakaran

A star tortoise

BANGALORE: The 600 star tortoises recovered by the Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel at Kuppam Railway Station in Andhra Pradesh on Saturday are yet to reach the Animal Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre (ARRC) of Bannerghatta Biological Park here.

The RPF personnel found the tortoises in gunny bags kept in a sleeper coach of the Yeshwantpur-Howrah Express train and handed over the tortoises to the Bangarpet Forest Department officials.

“We are yet to receive these tortoises from Bangarpet. We are expecting them by Monday. The ARRC has sufficient staff and infrastructure to take care of such rescued animals,” said Venugopal, Range Forest Officer of Bannerghatta Biological Park.

On several occasions, officials of the Police, Forest and Customs departments had sent such seized animals to the ARRC.

Once the tortoises are brought here, proper food and treatment will be given to them.

Later, we will release them in the Bannerghatta park, he told The Hindu here on Sunday.

Meanwhile, a senior police official criticised the RPF’s handing over the tortoises to the Forest Department as forest produce.

Such recoveries should have been handed over to the Government Railway Police for further investigation.

“By directly handing over the seized tortoises to the Forest Department, the RPF personnel have destroyed potential evidence (such as bags and so on) that could have led us to the culprits,” the official said.

Star tortoises are endangered species and are included in the schedule of Wildlife Prevention Act. Breeding and transportation of these tortoises is an offence under the Act. Star tortoises are used as pets in Malaysia, Singapore and other countries.

They are kept at homes with a belief that they bring good luck. They are also used for medicinal purpose and at times for culinary needs.

Star tortoises are delicate in nature and need proper care and attention. Procured from Kunigal and Tumkur districts and Sreenivasapura in Kolar district in the State, they are transported by train and aircraft and exported to countries such as Malaysia, China and Singapore, where they are a culinary delicacy. On October 15, 2006, officials of the Customs Department seized 447 star tortoises at the old Bangalore Airport. On July 8, 2007, at least 680 star tortoises were recovered by the Yeshwantpur Railway Police.

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