Karachi
A joint team of the WWF-Pakistan and the Sindh Wildlife Department rescued 62 vulnerable tortoises and freshwater turtles after a passer-by informed them about the presence of a large of rare species, while he was crossing the the EBM Causeway in Korangi Industrial area on Tuesday morning.
Reportedly, twenty-five reptiles were found dead, as they would have possibly crushed under traffic.
The rescued ones were later released in the Hub Dam near Khar Centre, the Kirthar National Park.
The turtles were possibly discarded by illegal wildlife traders, who might have abandoned them in fear of strict vigilance from the Sindh Wildlife Department.
A number of burlap bags were also spotted there, indicating that the animals might have transported to the area in them.
According to WWF-Pakistan’s experts, these species are not found in Karachi and were brought from other parts of the country.
Both the species, the Afghan or Central Asian tortoise (Testudo horsfieldii) and the black pond turtle (Geoclemys hamiltonii), are categorised as vulnerable according to the IUCN Red List and hunting them is prohibited under the Second Schedule of the Sindh Wildlife Protection Ordinance, 1972.
According to Altaf Sheikh, the manager conservation of the WWF-Pakistan, the population of these two reptiles is rapidly declining as their illegal trade has escalated due to high market demand over the past few years.
He also informed that these turtles and tortoises were smuggled to China, Hong Kong and other central Asian countries.
He also said that a number of consignments had been confiscated and repatriated by China and Hong Kong because of strict vigilance by the Pakistan Customs and the Sindh Wildlife Department.
Coordinator WWF-Pakistan Naveed Ali Soomro said that smuggling of turtles and tortoises had recently received a lot of hype as huge economic benefits were attached to it.
In the international market, each turtle is
believed to be worth Rs200,000 to Rs500,000, depending on the weight and size of a turtle.
It is feared that a few tortoises and turtles were taken by children and residents of the area to their houses.
The WWF-Pakistan has requested those residents to hand over the reptiles to the concerned department as they may die if not cared properly.