A local BJP leader from Dombivli was caught red-handed on Monday by the Wildlife Crime Control Board (WCCB), when he tried to sell 24 star tortoises in Airoli



The star tortoises that were rescued

A local BJP leader from Dombivli was caught red-handed on Monday by the Wildlife Crime Control Board (WCCB), when he tried to sell 24 star tortoises in Airoli. The tortoises are bought to keep as a sign of good luck. Mayuresh Shirke was arrested and released after a fine. He allegedly advertised on social media about these tortoises.

The tortoises will be kept in the WCCB office in Belapur, and released in their natural habitat after the Principal Chief Conservator of Forest’s (PCCF) approval. They sell for R1,200 each in the black market.

Speaking to mid-day, Deputy Regional Director, WCCB Western Region, MM Maranko explained, “Since these tortoises are Schedule-IV species — protected under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 - it is an offence to sell them. We released Shirke after fining him R25,000. He has given it in writing that he will never commit the offence again.”

The WCCB officials have now started investigating if Shirke is linked to previous such cases, but they are yet to figure out who supplied the tortoises to him. A WCCB official said, “We have learnt that their modus operandi was to hand over the tortoises to people on the road or in a market. However, Shirke claimed that he used to do home deliveries of the tortoises, to make easy money.”

Sunish Subramanian Secretary, PAWS said, “WCCB volunteers and PAWS-Mumbai were part of the team that caught Shirke red-handed. Star tortoises have a huge demand in the market, as they are commonly kept as pets at home for good luck and feng shui, which is illegal under Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.”