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Six held for poaching Olive Ridley turtle in Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park
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| The Times of India , Monday, July 08, 2013 |
| Correspondent
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| Six held for poaching Olive Ridley turtles: Forest officials from Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park at Tuticorin range arrested a six-member gang who were involved in killing an endangered Olive Ridley turtle weighing 40kg for its meat on Sunday. Based on a tip-off, the team raided the Tuticorin fishing harbour on Sunday morning. They found the group cutting the sea creature into pieces for its meat. The six who were arrested are Thomas, Vijayan, Nazren, Felix, George and Balamurugan.
They were arrested under the Wildlife Protection Act and were remanded in Tuticorin court, officials said.
Forest officials said the turtle comes under Schedule I of Wildlife Act and they were poached for meat because there is a superstition among the locals that the meat boosts libido. Ranger Nagarajan said there are two types of turtles - green turtles and Olive Ridley turtles - in GoMMNP and they are endangered species. While fishing, the turtles are caught in the fishing nets and the fishermen were asked not to kill the creature but free them in the sea.
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| SOURCE
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http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/madurai/Six-held-for-poaching-Olive-Ridley-turtle-in-Gulf-of-Mannar-Marine-National-Park/articleshow/20964246.cms |
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