IMPHAL: A smuggler carrying rare, critically endangered species of tortoise was detained by the Assam Rifles in Manipur's Chandel.
The suspected wildlife smuggler was held with a critically endangered species of tortoise which is generally found only in Indian Ocean island countries.
Assam Rifles took to Twitter to announce the arrest. The paramilitary force which guards the Indo-Myanmar border said in a tweet on Sunday that they have recovered "rare species of radiated tortoise in Chandel District."
According to reports, a local carrying four plastic boxes on Kenb (a Chinese made two-wheeler popular in the Indo-Myanmar border areas) was stopped by a team of Assam Rifles at around 2 am on January 29.
The security personnel recovered four tortoises from the boxes. According to reports, three of the four tortoises included two Radiated tortoises and one juvenile Aldabra tortoise.
Radiated tortoise, found in dry spiny forests of southern and southwestern Madagascar are 'critically endangered' as per the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List. Aldabra tortoise, said to be one of the largest land tortoises, are found in Aldabra in Seychelles. A male Aldabra tortoise could weigh up to 250 kilograms. They are classified as 'vulnerable' on the IUCN list.
It is being suspected that the tortoises were brought in from South East Asian countries like Thailand or Singapore. The detained smuggler is said to be a local carrier assigned with transporting the animals from Indo-Myanmar border to the capital city of Imphal.
The animals were handed over to the divisional forest officer.
Meanwhile, a snake charmer was caught near Assam University, Silchar with five species of snakes of which three are not native to the region of Barak Valley. The snakes were rescued by a research scholar of the university, Sumit Nath, who is also a well-known herpetologist in the region. Of the five species, the Short-nosed Vine snake and Ornate Flying snake are found in the region. The other three- Brown Vine snake, Red Sand Boa and Spectacled Cobra are being transported to the Assam State Zoo cum Botanical Garden in Guwahati. The native species of snakes are likely to be released in the Borail range with the assistance of forest officials, according to Assam University professor Parthankar Choudhury.
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