Odisha Forest Department seizes 631 Indian flap shell Turtles in Malkangiri

In a major crackdown on wildlife trafficking, the Odisha Forest Department seized 631 Indian flap shell turtles near the Andhra Pradesh border during a special operation in Malkangiri district on Wednesday.

Forest officials from the Motu range, acting on a tip-off, conducted the raid and recovered the turtles stored in 38 plastic trays, Malkangiri Divisional Forest Officer Sai Kiran said.

Two individuals from Korkulla village in Krishna district, Andhra Pradesh, had allegedly transported the turtles in a van to the Odisha border to sell them to five local buyers . All seven people involved in the illegal trade were arrested. The authorities also seized the van, six mobile phones, and two motorcycles from the accused.

A wildlife offence case has been registered under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 , which prohibits hunting, trade, and possession of protected species. Under the Act, offenders can face imprisonment of up to seven years and fines up to ₹25,000 , depending on the severity of the offence. Further investigations are underway.

This comes shortly after a similar seizure on March 2, when forest officials intercepted 210 live Indian flap shell turtles being smuggled into Malkangiri from Andhra Pradesh. The Odisha Forest Department continues to intensify efforts to curb illegal wildlife trafficking in the region.