Hyderabad, Feb. 24 -- The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), Hyderabad division, on Sunday, February 23, apprehended a man for smuggling turtles in Odisha. The DRI seized 1448 Indian Flap Shell Turtles at Godipada Toll Plaza, Khurda, along with the vehicle used in carrying the turtles.

The Indian Flap Shell Turtles, classified as a Schedule I species, are afforded stringent protection under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, of 1972. Further investigations are underway.

Indian flapshell turtle is a freshwater species of turtles which is found in many states in India, and across the Indian subcontinent. Turtles are smuggled and killed for their supposed aphrodisiac properties, livestock feed, to make leather from their skins, to mak...