Star tortoises seized, released into Guindy park

By Our Staff Reporter

CHENNAI, AUG. 21. Nearly 600 star tortoises concealed in a suitcase were seized from a Singapore Airlines flight passenger by Air Intelligence Unit officials of the Customs at the international airport here on Monday night and released into the Guindy National Park today.

According to Mr. R. Hemantkumar, Deputy Director, Wildlife, Southern Region, they were seized from one Mr. Mohammed Ismail of New Washermanpet, who was about to board the flight.

An interrogation revealed that a stranger, offering 1000 Singapore dollars, asked Mr. Ismail to carry a 34-inch suitcase and give it back to him at Singapore.

The tortoises were concealed in six small bags inside the suitcase, each bag containing about 100. A small hole was created for ventilation, Mr. Hemantkumar said. The seized ones were seven or eight months old, he added.

Forest department sources said there is a good demand for the species in south east Asian countries, where they are reared as pets and also the soup of tortoise is considered to be a stimulant. Each specimen will fetch nearly 50 or 75 Singapore dollars, if delivered there, the sources said.

A few years ago, a group of people collected star tortoises from the forest areas in Palamner in Andhra Pradesh and smuggled them through Chennai. The tortoises were also reared illegally by some individuals in Bangalore. But so far no action has been taken.

In the last eight months, it was the third seizure at the airport. In January, the officials seized about 300 star tortoises and in April, nearly 350.

Both the Forest department and the Deputy Directorate of Wildlife, Southern Region, should work in coordination to stop the illegal trade, added the sources.

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