Mumbai: Dozens of Indian flapshell turtles found dead in Kalyan lake; wildlife experts suspect deliberate poisoning

Mumbai: Dozens of Indian flapshell turtles found dead in Kalyan lake; wildlife experts suspect deliberate poisoning

Suhas Pawar of the Wild Animal and Reptile Rescue conservation group said 57 flap shell turtles had been killed while another six were rescued.

AFPUpdated: Sunday, January 23, 2022, 05:17 PM IST
article-image
Photo: Representative Image

Deliberate poisoning is likely to blame for the death of dozens of turtles at a lake near Mumbai, wildlife experts told AFP Sunday.

Conservation workers were alerted to the incident after a local politician asked them to investigate a foul smell around the body of water in Kalyan, about 50 kilometres (30 miles) east of the country's entertainment capital.

Suhas Pawar of the Wild Animal and Reptile Rescue conservation group said 57 flap shell turtles had been killed while another six were rescued.

He told AFP that locals likely killed the reptiles to stop them from eating fish they were illegally breeding in the lake.

"Everything is being investigated now, a post-mortem and scientific analysis will reveal the exact cause of these deaths," Mr Pawar said.

He added that Covid-19 restrictions over the past two years had likely led to a surge in the local turtle population.

"Restrictions on human activity likely increased the fish stocks at the lake and these turtles were now growing in numbers by feeding on them, which angered some locals," Mr Pawar said.

Indian flap shell turtles are not particularly rare but are a protected species under the Wildlife Protection Act.

RECENT STORIES

MahaRERA Is The Only Regulator In India To Recover Compensation Of ₹125 Crore In Just 14 Months

MahaRERA Is The Only Regulator In India To Recover Compensation Of ₹125 Crore In Just 14 Months

Mumbai: Massive Fire Breaks Out At Vardaman Garment Shop In Malad East; No Casualties

Mumbai: Massive Fire Breaks Out At Vardaman Garment Shop In Malad East; No Casualties

Mumbai Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Shinde Sena Leader Meets Govinda In Juhu Amid Speculations Of...

Mumbai Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Shinde Sena Leader Meets Govinda In Juhu Amid Speculations Of...

Lok Sabha Election 2024: Shiv Sena UBT Candidate Amol Kirtikar Seeks Exemption From ED Appearance

Lok Sabha Election 2024: Shiv Sena UBT Candidate Amol Kirtikar Seeks Exemption From ED Appearance

Mumbai: Date For Demolition Of Sion Road Over Bridge Postponed Again

Mumbai: Date For Demolition Of Sion Road Over Bridge Postponed Again