Chennai: Executive magistrate K. Thirumaran while checking vehicles and baggage on Wall Tax Road, near Flower Bazaar Station on Saturday morning, came across two individuals traveling with two bags containing 32 black pond turtles.
“The accused, Mohammed Faizon Khan and Mohad Zameer, had arrived by train from Bhopal. Zameer said they were to hand over the smuggled turtles to a middleman, Satish, from Chennai,” said Dawn Williams of Blue Cross. At around 8 am, the static surveillance team, while conducting its regular election checks, was surprised to find the turtles in the bag.
“As soon as we saw the pond turtles, we contacted Blue Cross. Veterinary doctors from the Blue Cross checked the health of the turtles and found them dehydrated and famished,” said K. Thirumaran. They then sprinkled water to refresh the turtles before handing them to the forest department along with the two accused
“The turtles were all tied tightly with a dirty dry synthetic cloth to restrict their movement. Their shells were dry and dirty,” said Williams. “The punishment for the accused is not yet decided,” said an official at the forest department. The turtles are now safe and healthy, he added.
