Action Sought Against Social Media Video On Hunting & Cooking Of Indian Flap Shell Turtle

Bhubaneswar: The Snake Helpline in Odisha has sought action against a video posted in a social media on hunting and cooking of Indian Flap Shell Turtle.

General secretary of Snake Helpline Subhendu Mallik, in a letter to Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (Wildlife) and Chief Wildlife Warden of Odisha, has stated that the video was released in the Facebook account ‘Odia Village Recipe’. It showed hunting, cooking and eating of the turtle, which is Schedule I species.

“I am drawing your kind and urgent attention to the violation of Wildlife (Protection) Act in the form of a hunting, cooking, and eating video of an Indian Flap Shell Turtle in the Facebook account ‘Odia Village Recipe’. The video serves as prima facie evidence of the crime. I have downloaded the video and attached it as evidence,” said Mallik in the letter.

He further said the person, who shot the video, seems to be the prime suspect and is equally liable for the crime under Section 52 of WL(P)A. Those who had consumed the turtle meat recipe in the video are equally guilty, he added.

Stating that such videos, if overlooked, will encourage others to consume turtle meat, Mallik requested the PCCF to take appropriate action against the culprits who hunted the turtle and dared to post the video of its consumption on social media.