5TH JUNE ,2023.
56 fl•apshell, black turtles dead in fi•re in private land in Kasaragod (PG 6)(GS 3)
5TH JUNE ,2023.
Fifty-six turtles were burnt to death after a fi•re broke out on fi•ve acres of wetland at Payyanki, near Cheruvathur, in Kasaragod in Kerala on Sunday. • The private land, which has paddy, trees and shrubs, has been ablaze for the past two days. • Twentytwo Indian fl•apshell and 34 black turtles, which come under Schedule I and Schedule II of the Wildlife Protection Act, were bur nt to death when local people and Forest Department personnel arrived at the site to extinguish the fi•re, according to Kanhangad Forest Range Offi•cer A.P. Sreejith. • Local people say the area is a habitat for several turtles and many more would have died. • A proper inspection can be done only when the fi•re is completely extinguished. • Mr. Sreejith said a case had been registered under Section 9 of the Wildlife Protection Act. • There has been a demand for a police investigation into the frequent fi•res in the area.