By Firstdespatch Desk Jun 25, 2023
Agartala, Jun 25 (FD) Pawsome NGO, an Agartala based dedicated animal welfare organization, successfully thwarted an attempt of smuggling turtles and managed to handover the culprit to security forces at Krishnanagar area near the TRTC bus depot here .
Acting on a tip-off, a team of volunteers from the NGO rushed to the pet store and rescued six baby turtles (Indian roofed turtle) from the possession of the smuggler and informed the officials of the state Forest department, who took custody of the animals and handed over the smuggler to police.
The team of the NGO, who detained the smuggler comprised, Akash Paul, Souvik Sinha, Amitava Deb and Bapan Das and the smuggler was identified as Raju Miah.
During preliminary investigation the accused confessed to police that a consignment of 300 turtle babies has recently arrived in Tripura, with the intention of smuggling them into neighboring states. This revelation has alarmed wildlife authorities and necessitates immediate action to prevent such illegal trade from taking place.
The Pawsome NGO has pledged full support to the forest department in their efforts to combat this illicit activity.
Talking to firstdespatch.com, the General Secretary of the NGO, Wrighbed Dutta, highlighted the organization's unwavering commitment to animal welfare since its establishment in 2015.
The NGO's expertise in wildlife conservation and their strong dedication to protecting animal rights make them valuable allies in this fight against wildlife trafficking.
He emphasized that the NGO's dedicated members have consistently engaged in a range of activities, including rescuing animals in distress, combating animal smuggling in collaboration with the state forest department officials and providing essential support to ensure the well-being of animals.
Expressing deep concern regarding the recent development, Dutta said, Tripura has emerged as a secure transit route for animal smugglers. FD PD