In a significant crackdown on wildlife trafficking, the Maidalpur Forest personnel in Odisha’s Nabarangpur district successfully rescued 83 live turtles and arrested two individuals involved in the illegal trade.
The operation highlights ongoing efforts to combat the smuggling of endangered species in the region.
According to sources, the turtles were being smuggled from Ambapani in Kalahandi district to Chatiguda under Dabugaon police station in Nabarangpur district. Acting on a tip-off, forest officials conducted a raid on the road from Maidlapur to Dabugaon, intercepting the smugglers mid-journey.
The arrested have been identified as Pabitra Sarkar (30) and Ram Prasad Sarkar (34). Both were apprehended with the live turtles in their possession. A case has been registered against them under number 227/2025-26, and they have been forwarded to court for further proceedings.
Forest Range Officer Madhusudan Patra confirmed the details, stating that the department received intelligence from reliable sources, enabling the timely intervention. The raid team included forest guards Basant Kumar Nayak, Tapas Pattnaik, Umashankar Mishra, Madhusmita Tripathi, Saraswati Meher, Kartik Majhi, Baidnath Majhi, Ramchandra Bhatra, Jhadeshwar Harijan, and Jayant Majhi.
The rescued turtles will be rehabilitated at the Papdahandi centre, ensuring their safe release back into suitable habitats. This incident underscores the persistent threat to Odisha’s biodiversity from illegal wildlife trade, with turtles often targeted for their meat, shells, and use in traditional medicine.
