MEERUT: Wildlife Crime Unit has arrested a 22-year-old youth in possession of a dozen Indian Star Tortoise , found only in Tamil Nadu , Karnataka and Sri Lanka . According to officials, the species is in very high demand and is generally traded for domestication.The Indian Star Tortoise is listed as ‘threatened’ in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) list.According to divisional forest officer, Meerut, Aditi Sharma, “Sumit Garg, 22, a resident of Shastri Nagar, was arrested from Commissioner crossing here on Friday. A college dropout, Garg is into the business of pet trade (generally dogs). This particular turtle species is considered to be the most sought after because of its natural yellow stars against the black crust. It can cost anywhere between Rs 5,000 and Rs 50,000 depending upon the financial status of the customer.”During questioning, Garg revealed that he had procured these tortoises through a railway parcel from Chennai and he himself received them at Delhi Railway Station.According to DFO Sharma, “The directions to nab Garg were given by principal chief conservator of forests (PCCF) Pawan Kumar, who had received a tip-off about the youth involved in the trade. Sumit is a college dropout and has a fair amount of knowledge of the Indian Wildlife Act. Soon after, the Wildlife Crime Unit’s Noida team along with local forest department swung into action.”Officials said he had been in this trade for the past two years and had got many consignments like this one. Besides, five red-eared sliders, another species of turtles, were also seized from him.Meanwhile the sleuths also raided the remises Shubham Goswami, a resident of Meerut’s Jagrati Vihar, and seized one tortoise from his house also.

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