BSF seized twenty one Star tortoises worth Rs.12.6 lakhs

They have a great demand in International market.

 

BSF troops of Border Out Post(BOP) Kalanchi, 152 Bn seized those Star Tortoise while these were being smuggled to Bangladesh valued approximately  Rs 12,60,000 (Twelve Lacs sixty Thousand) in International Market.

 

 "On Wednesday, 22nd April 2015, BSF authorities acted on a  a specific intelligence input regarding smuggling of Indian Star Tortoise to Bangladesh in area of Kalanchi, PS-Swarupnagar, Dist-North 24 Pargana, West Bengal. A special operation was planned by BSF troops of BOP Kalanchi, 152 Bn laid an ambush to trap smugglers. They noticed some suspicious movement of people near the border area of BOP Kalanchi. BSF troops challenged them. On being challenged miscreants dropped packets and fled towards Bangladesh taking advantage of darkness and unfenced riverine border. BSF party searched the area thoroughly and recovered bags containing tortoise from the spot," the BSF said in a statement.

 

"When they checked it, they found that total of 21 Star Tortoise were inside," it said.

 

These star tortoises are Indian species which in great demand in International Market. Seized Tortoise were handed over to forest officials by BSF authorities.

 

Indian Star tortoise (Geochelone Elegans ) is protected under Schedule IV of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 (as amended), which bans its possession and transfer in any form for commercial use. It is also protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), of which India is a signatory. 

 

The Indian Star Tortoise is a characteristic species of the Indian sub-continent. It is distinctive an attractive, growing up to around 30cm across the carapace, but it faces a number of threats: it is traded for food, used in traditional medicine (primarily in Asia) and kept as a pet in Asia and North America

 

 

Dead or alive, Indian star tortoises command premium prices in international market.

 

It fetches more than 500$(US dollars) in South –East Asian markets.

 

"South Bengal Frontier of BSF has seized more than 302 nos of Star Tortoise approx value Rs. 1,81,80,000 /- during this year," the force said.