Recently, forest officials from Odisha found 40 Indian flapshell turtles (Lissemys punctata) in baskets in an alleged smuggling racket.

Indian Flapshell Turtle:

=> It is a freshwater species of turtle and is found in many states.

=> The “flap-shelled” name stems from the presence of femoral flaps located on the plastron.

=> It is a relatively small soft-shell turtle with a carapace length of up to 350 millimetres.

=> The fresh water turtle is a scavenger in the river, but has been in decline for a long time.

=> Reasons for Smuggling:

• For aphrodisiac properties,
• Livestock feed,
• To make leather from their skins,
• To make potions from their blood and
• To use as fishing bait.

Turtles Types:

=> There are seven species of sea turtle: Green Sea Turtle, Hawksbill Sea Turtle, Loggerhead Sea Turtle, Olive Ridley Sea Turtle, Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtle, Leatherback Sea Turtle and Flatback Sea Turtle.

=> There are five species in Indian waters (Leatherback, Loggerhead, Hawksbill, Green and Olive Ridley).

• The Hawksbill turtle is listed as 'Critically Endangered' and Green Turtle is listed as 'Endangereed' on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

Conservation Plans:

=> Smuggling of turtles, one of the Class 1 species of the water animal, is a non-bailable offence under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.

=> Sea Turtle Conservation Programme

=> Awareness Programmes

=> Dedicated Action Plan: India has for the first time devised a dedicated action plan for the protection and conservation of marine turtles.