AGARTALA, June 6 (TIWN): On one hand where the world is facing the threat of extinction of turtle, on the other hand, illegal intrusion of smuggling of turtle from Tripura to Bangladesh and vice-versa has become an everyday-issue. Despite the wire fencing across the border area even today the import-export of prohibited-goods has been continuing.

Altogether 11 turtles have been handed over to the Sepahijala zoo on June 6. Custom office officials have rescued a consignment of endangered tortoise from Akhuara immigration centre.

 At first the animals were handed over to Range Officer Sadar. Later, these were handed over to the Sepahijala Zoo at around 11 am in the morning.

According to the Director of Sepahijala Zoological Park, K. G Roy, altogether 3 species of turtles were found. Among the 11 turtles, two are among the Indian Soft Shell turtle, one of Indian Peacock Shell and the remaining three are yellow spotted pond turtle.

Among these turtles, one which was weighing 1kg was found dead.  K. G. Roy further stated that Indian Soft Shell turtle and Peacock Shells are among the endangered species. Whereas the yellow spotted pond turtle are mostly found in West Bengal, Bangladesh and Tripura.

Range Officer Sadar Asesh Debbarma said that altogether 11 turtles have been seized. The turtles were discovered in a sack reportedly left by Bangladeshi smugglers when they were interrogated by the border security guard while sneaking into Indian Territory.

Further, as per report no one has been arrested in connection with the incident. It is said that as the public of Bangladesh does not taste turtle much, the smugglers mostly import them through the border to sell it in double rate.

Detailing about the number of species available in Sepahijala, K. G Roy said that among the seven species available in Tripura, Sepahijala Zoo preserves five species including the species found in the Udapur Tripureswari Mandir. The name of the species is soft-shell N nigricans turtles, a rare species found only in the tank of the Tripureswari Temple and also in Sepahijala zoo.

However, The Indo-Bangladesh border is highly leaky making the illegal movement of people and goods a regular affair. The territory and the demographic composition of the border area make it favorable for Bangladeshis to sneak into India and also to get easily assimilated with the local masses.