Quick action by wildlife officers in Bangladesh saved nearly 1,000 endangered turtles from an abandoned warehouse, marking the largest turtle rescue in the country's history, reported Good Good Good.
The Wildlife Crime Control Unit discovered three protected species during its December operation: the Indian roofed turtle, brown roofed turtle, and yellow pond turtle. Together, the rescued animals weighed about 1,763 pounds.
"All the rescued turtles were alive," said Wildlife Crime Control Unit inspector Asim Mallik, who led the operation. His team acted on an anonymous tip from local residents, arriving just in time to prevent the turtles from being smuggled across the border.
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These freshwater reptiles keep waterways healthy by feeding on dead fish and controlling algae growth. They spread seeds from plants and trees while moving through their habitat, supporting the ecosystem.
The rescue highlights growing efforts to protect these valuable species, which face threats from illegal trading. In Bangladesh and India, some capture the turtles for food or medicine or sell them as lucky charms.
"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," Mallik told the Business Standard newspaper, per Good Good Good. His team is working to bring those responsible to justice under Bangladesh's Wildlife Conservation and Security Act.
The Forest Department is caring for the turtles and planning their release back into natural water bodies. The scale of this rescue brings welcome attention to these animals and their role in keeping our waters clean.
"This is the largest seizure of turtles ever recorded in Bangladesh," Mallik said, recognizing the dedication of Forest Department officials who made the rescue possible.
This successful mission demonstrates how community tips and quick action can help protect the animals that keep our ecosystems thriving. When we save turtles, we save the waterways that sustain wildlife and people.
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