Reptile awareness day: Over 9,000 turtles rescued in six years

Trafficking networks stretch across borders

At least 9,046 turtles have been rescued by the Forest Department’s Wildlife Crime Control Unit (WCCU) in six years since 2021, as illegal wildlife trafficking continues despite repeated enforcement drives.

According to WCCU records, 7,685 turtles, nearly 85 percent of the total, were rescued between 2024 and September this year.The figures underscore the threats facing freshwater turtles and tortoises from illegal trade and habitat destruction, as Reptile Awareness Day was observed yesterday.

The records show that 557 turtles were rescued in 2021, 225 in 2022, 579 in 2023, 1,678 in 2024, 3,220 in 2025, and 2,787 this year till September.

Among the identified species, at least 2,316 Indian roofed turtles and 1,237 Indian flapshell turtles were rescued. Both are classified as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.

Freshwater turtles are essential keystone species that keep rivers, lakes, and wetlands healthy. They cycle nutrients, clean up dead matter, spread plant seeds, and act as biological indicators of water quality.

On September 27, authorities seized 1,163 Indian roofed turtles from the luggage of Malaysia-bound passenger Md Shahidul Islam at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. A case was filed against him under the Wildlife (Conservation and Security) Act, 2026.

However, rising seizures do not necessarily indicate increased trafficking, as they may also reflect intensified enforcement and improved detection, said officials.

Abdullah AS Sadique, wildlife inspector at the WCCU, said trafficking networks begin with local collectors, often fishermen and marginalised communities, before passing through middlemen to international operators.

Turtles collected from wetlands and other habitats are smuggled to China, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam and Myanmar, driven largely by demand for meat and exotic pets, he said.

While carriers are frequently arrested, organisers coordinate transactions through mobile phones and online platforms, sometimes from abroad, he added.

WCCU Director Mohammad Mizanur Rahman called for greater public awareness and stronger inter-agency coordination.

He said four frequently trafficked freshwater turtle species are protected under the Wildlife (Conservation and Security) Act, 2026.

M Abdul Aziz, professor of zoology at Jahangirnagar University, called for better technology and specialised training for customs officials to combat increasingly sophisticated trafficking networks.