Sindh

Rescued turtles released in Indus river

The freshwater turtles were found after the wildlife department carried out a raid on poachers

Our Correspondent January 10, 2020

Sindh Wildlife Department officials released 54 Indian soft-shelled turtles in the Indus river. The turtles were rescued from poachers in Khairpur. PHOTO: EXPRESS

KARACHI: Officials of the Sindh Wildlife Department (SWD) released 54 Indian soft-shelled turtles in the Indus river near the Khairpur-Larkana bridge on Thursday.

On Wednesday, in a raid conducted after receiving a tip-off, department officials had found three poachers who belonged to Ranipur in Khairpur district and rescued the freshwater turtles from their possession.

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“The property [turtles] were confiscated and a fine of Rs30,000 was taken from the poachers,” said SWD deputy conservator Dara Munir Qazi.

The poachers held by the officials were identified as Ashok, Dilip and Manzoor.

Qazi said that the species of turtles found by his team were Indian soft-shelled turtles (Chitra Indica).

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He explained that despite a strict check on all such illegal activities, smugglers, with the help of impoverished gypsies in the area, still tried to catch freshwater turtles.

These turtles are usually smuggled to Hong Kong, other parts of China, South Korea and Vietnam, where they and their body parts fetch high prices.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 10^th, 2020.