More than 580 turtles had a miraculous escape when a truck, suspected to be transporting them illegally, overturned near Jalagala Madumu on NH 5 Thursday evening. The driver fled the scene after the mishap.

The Traffic Police of Anakapalle town in Vizag district on reaching the spot, were surprised when they saw turtles crawling out of the vehicle.

It is suspected the Indian Mud Turtles, a Schedule I species under the Indian Wildlife Protection Act, were being illegally transported to West Bengal and the Northeast, where turtle meat is considered a delicacy. The truck had a Bengal registration plate.

Anakapalle Traffic Sub-Inspector N Satyanarayana said, "The turtles were hidden in plastic trays beneath baskets of fish to mislead officials at the inter-state border.''

Forest Department sources said 591 turtles were being transported. "Eight of them died either in the accident or during transportation. They are a delicate species and die if there is no moisture near them," DFO P Suryanarayana said. The turtles were later released in lakes in the Kambalakonda Wildlife Sanctuary.

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