Thane Forest Division Seizes Indian Soft-Shelled Turtle from Colony Clubhouse in Navi Mumbai, As Result of PETA India Complaint
Acting on a tip from a concerned citizen, PETA India worked with the Thane Forest Division of the Maharashtra Forest Department to rescue an Indian soft-shelled turtle – a species protected under Schedule I of the Wild Life (Protection) Act (WPA), 1972 (as amended in 2022) – who was being kept in a messy aquarium in the clubhouse of Seawoods estate colony in blatant violation of the WPA. The seized turtle is being kept under observation in the custody of the forest department and is being medically examined and provided with appropriate care before being released.
Possessing a species protected under Schedule I is an offence punishable by a minimum three-year prison sentence, which may extend to seven years, and a minimum fine of Rs 25,000.
Indian soft-shelled turtles are classified as “Endangered” on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species. Because turtles are wild animals, when kept in homes, they typically are fed an unnatural or inappropriate diet and relegated to dingy tanks without any enrichment.
