Over 1,400 turtles rescued from smugglers in Andhra Pradesh released in reservoir

Officials of the Andhra Pradesh Forest Department last week released 1,426 Indian flat-shelled turtles (Lissemys punctate) into the Musurumilli reservoir on the outskirts of Rampachodavaram in Alluri Sitarama Raju district. Two individuals were arrested in the operation, which highlights the continuing scourge of turtle smuggling in India. Officers of the Folkspeta Forest Range seized 1,589 turtles from the duo on May 16, but only 1,426 were found to be still alive. The remaining 163 had...