TIMES OF INDIA (New Delhi) 03 December 13 Turtle rescued at Bhagur (Sumita Sarkar)
Nashik: An Indian Softshelled Turtle that was injured near the Darna dam at Bhagur was rescued by animal activists and the forest department on Sunday. The turtle has been transported to Sharan, a city-based shelter for animals.
The turtle, about 2.5 feet in length, is believed to be around 70-80 years old. It was rescued by farm employees on Sunday morning, when the construction workers near the dam were trying to take it away.
They said that the farm owner informed Sharanya Shetty, the founder of Sharan. Activists rushed to the spot and also informed the forest department. The turtle was spotted by farm labourers at 10 am and was brought to the shelter by 6 pm.
Aashish Lakariya, one of the farm owners, said: "The turtle is huge and its colour resembles that of the surrounding stones at the construction site. As it bit a site worker, they struck it and it was injured. The farm labourers informed me immediately."
Speaking to TOI, Shetty said,"The turtle is injured on the back and stomach and has some internal injury as well. Blood sprays out when it breathes. It seems to be around 70-80 years old. It is rare and probably under Schedule I." Dr Digvijay Patil is treating the animal.
A schedule is an index maintained by animal researchers, which helps officials ascertain whether an animal is near extinction.
Range forest officer Rajan Gaikwad said that they are confirming the Schedule of the turtle with experts. "Two forest guards from Bhagur and three animal activists rescued the turtle. We are consulting with the Zoological Survey of India in Pune, to confirm the schedule. We have not yet filed a criminal offence but will do so after confirming the facts," he added.
A Soft-shelled Indian Turtle that was found injured near Darna dam at Bhagur was rescued by animal activists and the forest department on Sunday evening. The turtle has been transported to Sharan - a shelter for animals.
The turtle, about 2.5 feet in size, is believed to be around 70 to 80 years old. It was rescued by farm employees on Sunday morning when the construction site workers near the dam were trying to take it away.
They informed their owner who informed the founder of the animal shelter, Sharanya Shetty. The volunteers of the animal shelter rushed to the spot and informed the forest department.
"The turtle is huge and its colour resembles that of the stones at the construction site. It was in its territory but bit one of the site workers and the site workers are believed to have hit it resulting in the injury. My farm labourers seeing all this, informed me immediately," said Aashish Lakariya, one of the farm owners. "We informed Sharanya Shetty. Her volunteers came immediately and also the forest department. But the site workers were reluctant and said that they would release it in their wells. The forest personnel went back and brought their van. It was only after seeing the van and the uniformed men that the site workers handed the turtle to them," said Lakariya.
The turtle was spotted by the farm labourers at 10 am but it could be brought to the shelter only at 6 pm.
"The turtle is injured in the back and stomach and has some internal injury. Blood sprays out while it is breathing out. It seems to be at least 70-80 years old. It is rare and probably under Schedule I," said Sharanya Shetty, founder of Sharan, the animal shelter. Dr Digvijay Patil is treating the animal.
Range Forest Officer, Rajan Gaikwad said that they are confirming the Schedule of the turtle with experts. "Two of our forest guards of Bhagur and three animal activists rescued the turtle that is now being taken care of at the animal shelter. We are consulting with the Zoological Survey of India, Pune, to confirm which schedule it belongs to. We have not yet filed a criminal offence but will do so after confirming all the facts," said Gaikwad.
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