720 freshwater turtles seized in Orissa

MALKANGIRI (Orissa): At least 720 freshwater turtles were seized from a pickup truck in Orissa's Malkangiri district, wildlife officials said on Saturday.

Officials have detained two people carrying the consignment.

Officials intercepted the truck near a village in Malkangiri district, about 700 km from state capital Bhubaneswar. The consignment weighed 600 kg, a senior official said.

Gopal Dhali and Mahadev Mandal have been arrested under sections of Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972.

During interrogation by the officials both confessed that they brought the freshwater turtles from neighbouring Andhra Pradesh to sell it in the local markets.