Paralakhemundi: Forest department officials in the Gajapati district foiled an attempt to smuggle 20 tortoises and rescued the animals from poachers on Monday.
Local people intercepted a person riding a motorbike carrying a bag with the aquatic animals. When the smuggler came out of the Gajapati district Fishery office, locals smelled foul and on searching him, they found at least 20 live tortoises.
On being informed, Paralakhemundi ranger D V Sharma arrived at the spot with his team and recovered the tortoises. However, the man carrying the animals gave the people a slip and succeeded in fleeing the spot.
According to local inhabitants, the smuggling of tortoises from the district Fishery office has become a common affair. While some alleged that a section of the Fishery department is hand in glove with the smugglers, others said that despite repeated warnings, the Fishery department officials choose to ignore the matter.
When contacted for their comments on the issue, the employees at the Fishery department refused to say anything.
Meanwhile, local inhabitants have demanded a probe into the matter and strict action against all those who are involved in the smuggling of the protected species.
According to the local residents, after the tortoises are smuggled from the Fishery office, they are sold to specific clients. Everyone in the region is aware of this menace, but still, the Forest office is yet to initiate any action to end the clandestine business.
Usually, the smuggling of tortoises is done at night when there are very few people outside.
Meanwhile, Paralakhemundi ranger D V Sharma said that the tortoises were recovered from the campus of the fishery office. In the melee that followed, the smuggler succeeded in fleeing the place. He said that the department would probe the matter and initiate legal action against the guilty.
