Acting under the directives of Forest Officer Pratap Kattapalli, the Motu Forest Division in Malkangiri district successfully intercepted a smuggling operation late last night near the Motu checkpoint.
Over 300 live turtles, valued at Rs 10 lakh, were rescued, and two individuals were arrested.
The turtles, reportedly being transported from Andhra Pradesh to the Kalimela region to meet the local demand for turtle meat, were cleverly concealed in a fish vehicle. In addition to the turtles, the forest officials seized a pickup truck and two motorcycles used for smuggling.
This operation highlights ongoing efforts to curb illegal wildlife trade in the region. Further investigations are underway to identify other culprits involved in the smuggling network.
