The Gujarat Forest Department, in partnership with the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB), has busted an illegal wildlife trade operation in Surat and rescued 18 Indian star tortoises.
The actions were made while confidential information about the sale of the protected animals was being kept secret. Forest officials staged a decoy operation to pose as prospective buyers and to intercept the alleged transaction, as The New Indian Express reported.
In the recent incident, two people in connection with the investigation were detained. The sources of the tortoises are now being investigated, and the seizure is being investigated to see if it is linked to a larger wildlife trafficking network.
How the Surat Tortoise Trade Operation was Busted
According to officials, the operation started after the WCCB shared information of the suspected illegal trade with the forest department.
Forest workers were reported to have posed as customers and approached a shopkeeper named Dinesh Thakor at Udhna Darwaja on Kot Safi Road in the area of Navsari Bazaar in Surat.
Thakor said that after the decoy customer expressed interest in purchasing tortoises, he contacted Sheikh Azhar, who brought 18 tortoises from his residence to the shop.
18 Indian star tortoises rescued in Surat; two detained in decoy operationhttps://t.co/yZGZqjIelC pic.twitter.com/NX6dDb6JDz
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The officials were monitoring the transaction and intervened when the alleged deal was being negotiated. The two men were intercepted, and the 18 Indian star tortoises were seized.
The Times of India reported that the intelligence had indicated the suspected sale of Indian star tortoises through a shop named "Surat Enterprise". The animals were being kept at a residence in Gopipura before being brought to the shop.
The actual roles of the two detained individuals and the source of the animals remain the subject of ongoing investigation.
Why Indian Star Tortoises are Targeted
The Indian star tortoise is frequently used in illegal wildlife trade as an exotic pet, and superstitious beliefs surround its ownership.
The New Indian Express says people have come to believe that the Indian star tortoise stays at home and is good for the economy, happiness, and good fortune.
The animals are also sought after because of the distinctive shell pattern, which resembles radiating stars.
In government records, demand for star tortoises was previously identified as a threat to their survival. The Wildlife Crime Control Bureau has also been involved in intelligence gathering and coordination with state agencies to combat illegal wildlife trade.
The Indian star tortoise is also listed in CITES Appendix I, which provides the species with the highest level of international protection from commercial international trade. The species is evaluated as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, with illegal trade and habitat loss among the threats to its population.
Tortoises Could Fetch Lakhs In Illegal Market
Officials estimate that the 18 tortoises seized in Surat could have fetched approximately Rs 15 lakh to Rs 20 lakh in the international illegal wildlife market.
The New Indian Express reported that individual Indian star tortoises are illegally traded for between Rs 25,000 and Rs 1 lakh depending on their size and other characteristics.
The Times of India also reported that investigators are looking at the possibility of a wider network involved in the trade. Deputy Conservator of Forests Dhiraj Kumar said the accused would be questioned to discover the roles of other people who might be involved.
The investigation is underway to trace the source.
Dumas Range Forest Officer Pruthvirajsinh Vaghela said the operation was launched after the WCCB shared confidential information about the suspected trade.
As Vaghela reported, forest personnel acted as customers, confirmed the transaction and intercepted the two accused with the tortoises.
Now the investigation goes on to trace where the animals came from, who the suppliers were and how long the alleged network may have been operating. The accused are being questioned, and actions will be taken against the network, the prosecutor said.
The seizure demonstrates the continuing problem of illegal wildlife trade in India, where protected species can be targeted for the exotic pet market, superstition and commercial demand. Wildlife agencies use intelligence-led operations and coordinated action between forest departments and specialised enforcement bodies to identify and disrupt such networks.
The 18 rescued tortoises will be kept under the care of wildlife authorities, and the investigation of their origin and the alleged trafficking operation will continue.
