Turtles smuggled from Etawah were on way to South East Asia

Kanpur: The association of turtles in Feng Shui in countries like Malaysia, Thailand and China, besides Vastu Shastra in India, is turning the illegal trade of turtles into a large wildlife smuggling racket in the country.
The recent case, where a notorious smuggler of Etawah was caught with 50 fresh water turtles in Jaswantnagar area of Etawah, revealed that the aquatic animals were to be supplied to Kolkata.From there, the consignment was to be delivered to countries like Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand and China. The animal is considered to be auspicious in these countries as its presence in the house brings wealth and prosperity as per Feng Shui. Off late, Etawah and its neighbouring districts of Mainpuri and Auraiya have become the major source of providing endangered Indian fresh water turtles to markets in West Bengal.
About seven months ago, 124 endangered black spotted turtles of two rare species were seized by the forest department and district police during a raid at the Nagla Rate locality of Mainpuri. On November 15, 28 turtles were recovered from a house at Gihar Colony in Mainpuri.
Turtles are mostly smuggled through trains and buses and trucks for the local market and passenger flights are used in smuggling for international market.
Rajesh Modak, a senior police official involved in some recent operations to stop turtle poaching during his posting as SSP, Etawah, said that some members of local communities were working with poachers of other states like West Bengal, Bihar, Orissa and Assam. "We have issued alert in the region," said Kanhaiya Patel, divisional forest officer, Etawah.