Five Indian softshell turtles seized from dhaba

By our Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, Nov 25: That wildlife is being destructed in Assam has been proved yet again with the seizure of as many as five Indian softshell turtles (Nilssonia gangetica), or Ganges softshell turtle from a dhaba in Barpeta Town by the sleuths of the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau, Guwahati with the help of personnel from the State Forest Department and the police yesterday.

The Indian softshell turtle is a vulnerable species of softshell turtle found in South Asia in rivers such as the Ganges, Indus and Mahadi. This reptile reaches a carapace length of up to 94 cm (37 inches). It feeds mostly on fish, amphibians, carrion and other animal matter, but also takes aquatic plants.

The Indian softshell turtle (Nilssonia gangetica), or Ganges softshell turtle is a species of softshell turtle found in South Asia in rivers such as the Ganges, Indus and Mahadi. This vulnerable turtle reaches a carapace length of up to 94 cm (37 in).[2] It feeds mostly on fish, amphibians, carrion and other animal matter, but also takes aquatic plants. The sleuths and police raided Gandhi gar in Barpeta Town yesterday and recovered the five turtles from Walden Dhaba. Before the raid, the owner of the Dhaba, Abhijit Das, had fled the scene.   The vulnerable turtle have been set free in the Mas Reserve Forest.