1,000 endangered sweetwater turtles rescued in Chandpur

The Wildlife Crime Control Unit (WCCU) of the Forest Department has rescued nearly 1,000 endangered turtles, weighing approximately 800 kilograms, during a raid on a warehouse in Shahrashti's Kalibari Road area of Chandpur.

This is the largest-ever rescue of endangered sweetwater turtles in the history of the unit, said WCCU Inspector Asim Mallik.

The operation, conducted from Monday (9 December) night to Tuesday (10 December) morning based on a tip-off, did not result in any arrests.

The turtles belonged to three endangered species - 500kg of Sundhi Kachim (Indian roofed turtle), 280kg of Kori Kaitta (brown roofed turtle), and 20kg of Holud Kachhap (yellow pond turtle), said Asim. "All the rescued turtles were alive."

Forest Department officials with rescued sweetwater turtles in Chandpur on 10 December. Photo: Courtesy

"Local residents and traders informed us that an illegal syndicate had been operating this business under the guise of fish trading for a long time. The turtles were being stored at the warehouse to be smuggled to India through the Benapole border," he said.

Asim highlighted that the rescued turtles are protected under the Wildlife (Conservation and Security) Act 2012, which prohibits their captivity, transportation, or sale. "Legal action is underway, and a case will be filed to bring those responsible to justice."

"This is the largest seizure of turtles ever recorded in Bangladesh," he said, adding, "The rescued turtles are currently under the care of the Forest Department and will soon be released into natural water bodies."

This operation underscored the ongoing battle against wildlife trafficking in Bangladesh and the urgent need for stricter enforcement to protect endangered species.