Hyderabad DRI seizes 1,448 Indian Flap Shell Turtles in Khurda, Odisha; One held
Hyderabad: On February 23, 2025, officials from the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), Hyderabad Zonal Unit, successfully apprehended one individual and seized 1,448 Indian Flap Shell Turtles at the Godipada Toll Plaza, Khurda, Odisha.
The turtles were being transported illegally in a vehicle, which was also seized. The operation was carried out under provisions of Section 50(1)(c), read with Section 9 and Sl. No. 44 of Schedule-I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
The Indian Flap Shell Turtle is classified as a Schedule I species, receiving the highest level of protection under the Wildlife (Protection) Act of 1972. The seizure highlights DRI’s ongoing efforts to combat wildlife trafficking and preserve endangered species.
Earlier, the DRI Hyderabad Zonal Unit had carried out two separate operations in Andhra Pradesh, where they seized illegally traded dead Black and Soft Corals. On December 30, 2024, two individuals were apprehended in Srisailam for trafficking in dead Black and Soft Corals. The seizure included 9.812 kg of dead Black Corals (Antipatharia), 0.286 kg of dead Soft Corals (Alcyonacea), and six Trapezium Horse Conches (Pleuroploca trapezium), all of which are listed under Schedule I and II of the Wildlife (Protection) Act.
The investigation led to the arrest of a supplier in Ongole, Andhra Pradesh, on December 31, 2024, and the seizure of an additional 6.64 kg of black corals. These corals, vital to coral reef ecosystems, are being sold illegally for decorative purposes. Removing them disrupts marine habitats, threatening biodiversity.
The individuals involved in the coral trafficking, along with the seized items and vehicles, have been handed over to the Andhra Pradesh Forest Department for further investigation.
In another significant operation, DRI officials in Andhra Pradesh rescued a live Indian Pangolin and arrested four individuals involved in its illegal trafficking on November 12, 2024. The pangolin, a highly trafficked species in international markets, was found concealed in a jute bag in Kadiri, Andhra Pradesh. The suspects were arrested, and the rescued pangolin was handed over to local authorities.
Pangolins, protected under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), are primarily poached for their scales and meat, both of which are in high demand in some parts of Asia.
