India: Wildlife officials of Madurai forest division arrested three people while they were trying to sell nine turtles at Tiruparankundram on Wednesday evening. Based on a tip-off that some people were catching turtles and selling them, officials kept a vigil in the district to keep a watch for any illegal trading of wildlife products.

On Wednesday evening, based on secret information, they rounded up three people Suresh, 21, Babu, 28, and Venkatesh, 20, all hailing from Sakkimangalam area and seized nine live turtles from them at Tiruparankundram.

Among the seized turtles, eight are Indian flab shell turtles protected under Schedule I of Wildlife Protection Act while one is the Indian black shell turtle. Based on directions of district forest officer, Samartha forester Ganesan and team nabbed the three. They were selling these turtles for Rs 200 each in the black market.

(Source: Times of India)