Three smugglers held with 20 turtles, 2 big cat nails in Udaipur

Udaipur: The Udaipur Forest Department team and Wildlife Crime Control Bureau in a joint operation arrested three in connection with smuggling organs of wildlife. The teams recovered 20 turtles and two nails said to be of panther or lion from the smugglers.

The Forest Department teams got a tip-off about the smuggling on social media. Based on inputs, teams of Udaipur Forest Department and Wildlife Crime Control Bureau teams conducted a decoy operation and posed as common buyers. The forest department teams are interrogating the arrested.

Smugglers being active in the Udaipur region may affect tourism business. The tribaldominated area of Udaipur is known for its unique and abundant wildlife.

Smuggling of turtles, one of the Class 1 species of the water animal, is a non-bailable offence under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.