Guwahati: The Assam State Zoo on Saturday received 63 endangered turtles that were airlifted on Thursday from Pune.
For the first time, 63 endangered turtles seized at Pune were successfully repatriated via an 18 hour long flight to Guwahati with the coordinated efforts of the Assam Forest Department, Turtle Survival Alliance, and Assam State Zoo.
The turtles include endangered species like the Indian roof turtle, the crowned river turtle, brown roof turtle and spotted river terrapin. The turtles were rescued during various seizures in the state, an official said.
The exercise was a joint initiative by the state forest department and the Turtle Survival Alliance.
Of the 63 turtles, 55 were with the Indian Herpetological Society, Katraj, and eight were with the RESQ Charitable Trust.
