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Star tortoises seized at airport; one arrested

Staff Reporter

They were stuffed in pillow covers packed in a bag

ENDANGERED SPECIES: The star tortoises that were seized in Bangalore on Saturday. — Photo: V. Sreenivasa Murthy

BANGALORE: The Customs officials, in association with the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), on Friday seized 447 star tortoises, estimated at Rs. 67 lakh in the international market, which were being smuggled to Malaysia.

The officials detained Kothandan Ranganath (28) at the HAL Airport who was allegedly attempting to smuggle the tortoises. They were stuffed in cotton pillow covers, which were packed in an air bag. Some of them had died because of rough handling.

The tortoises were of different sizes and shapes and weighed 10 gm to 350 gm, Commissioner of Customs P. Ayyam Perumal said on Saturday.

Preliminary investigation revealed that they were procured from Chennai and were being smuggled to Kuala Lumpur, via Sri Lanka. Export of star tortoises is banned under the Wild Life Protection Act, 1972. They were seized under the provisions of the Customs Act, 1962, Mr. Perumal said.

Star tortoises are used as pets in Malaysia, Singapore and other countries.

They are kept at homes with a belief that they bring good luck. They are also used for medicinal purpose and at times for culinary needs, he said.

Mr. Perumal said that because of sustained efforts and constant vigil at various airports they were able to effect the seizure. In the past three months, similar hauls were made at Cochin, Chennai and Thiruvananthapuram airports.

According official sources, the tortoises were handed over to the Forest Department and they have been kept at the Bannerghatta National Park.

When contacted, Inspector-General of Police (CID Forest Cell) K.S.N. Chikkerur said the star tortoises were a highly endangered species and were protected animals. Such tortoises were mainly procured from Kunigal in Tumkur district and Sreenivasapura in Kolar district in the State, he said.

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