Mangaluru: Four individuals have been booked under the Wildlife Protection Act for allegedly poaching Indian Black turtles from a river and cooking the meat as part of a ritual following their grandmother’s death, forest officials said.
The accused have been identified as Manikantha, 42, Rajendra, 54, Vignesh, 32, and Prashanth, 35. The case has been registered under the relevant provisions of the Wildlife Protection Act, and further investigation is underway.
Raid Conducted on Somavathi River Bank
Acting on specific intelligence inputs, Forest Department officials conducted a raid on Saturday along the banks of the Somavathi River. During the operation, the team allegedly found the four men attempting to cook turtle meat after reportedly hunting four Indian Black turtles.
Officials detained the accused at the spot and seized four partially burnt turtle carcasses from their possession. Preliminary reports indicate that the act was allegedly carried out as part of a ritual linked to the recent death of their grandmother, who was said to have been fond of turtle meat.
Wildlife Law Invoked
Forest officials stated that Indian Black turtles are protected under the Wildlife Protection Act, and hunting or consuming them constitutes a punishable offence. Authorities are verifying additional details, including whether more individuals were involved and the exact method of poaching.
The department reiterated its warning against illegal hunting and consumption of protected wildlife species, stating that strict action would be taken against violators.
