PINAKI MAJUMDAR
Jamshedpur, August 29: Acting on a tip-off from a local citizen, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India worked with the Dhalbhum Forest Division today to rescue two Indian star tortoises – species protected under Schedule I of the Wild Life (Protection) Act (WPA), 1972 (as amended in 2022).
Rescued tortoises were kept for sale
The two tortoises were kept for sale at Atlantic Aquarium, a pet shop in Sonari in blatant violation of the WPA.
A preliminary offence report was registered against the unidentified perpetrators under sections 9, 39, 50, and 51 of the WPA.
The seized tortoises are being kept under observation in the custody of the forest department in Mango.
Possessing a species protected under Schedule I is an offence punishable by a prison sentence of three to seven years and a minimum fine of Rs 25,000.
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PETA India thanks Jharkhand forest dept
“PETA India is grateful to the forest department for promptly rescuing these tortoises and taking action,” said PETA India Cruelty Response Coordinator Saloni Sakaria.
“This incident is exactly why laws exist to keep wild animals where they belong – in nature,” she said.
Indian star tortoises are vulnerable species
Indian star tortoises are seized from illegal traders more often than any other species of tortoise and are classified as “vulnerable” on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species.
Notably, tortoises are wild animals, when kept in homes, they typically are fed an unnatural or inappropriate diet and relegated to dingy tanks without any enrichment.
