Over 1,000 Turtles Rescued in Malkangiri, 3 Arrested

Acting on a tiPolice personnel pose for a photograph with the seized turtles and three apprehended smugglers.p-off, a special team from the forest department on Tuesday evening raided MPV-65 village under the Kalimela range and intercepted a Mahindra Bolero suspected to be transporting contraband wildlife. On inspection, the team found 1,078 live turtles crammed into the vehicle under deplorable and inhumane conditions, sources said.

Three suspects were arrested at the scene and later remanded to judicial custody. The alleged kingpin—believed to be based in Andhra Pradesh—remains absconding.

Officials noted that this is not the first instance of large-scale turtle smuggling in the region. Similar seizures were reported at least five to six times in the past, with Malkangiri and neighbouring Nabarangpur districts emerging as hubs for illegal wildlife trade. The turtles are typically smuggled across the state border and sold in local markets, fetching around Rs 500 per kilogram.

Forest officials suspect the involvement of a well-organised syndicate operating across Andhra Pradesh and Odisha, using remote villages like MPV-65 as transit points to avoid detection. A thorough investigation is currently underway to identify and apprehend other members of the network.

The incident has triggered fresh concerns over rising wildlife trafficking along the Odisha-Andhra Pradesh border. Authorities have ramped up surveillance in vulnerable areas and urged locals to report any suspicious activities linked to the illegal trade in wildlife.