Hey there, folks! Today we’ve got some interesting news coming out of Pune. The Pune Forest Department has taken action against a hotel owner, Abhijit Pathare, for illegally housing a protected Indian roofed turtle in his hotel in Talegaon Dhabade.
It all started when Wildlife Warden Aditya Paranjape got a tip-off about the illegal activity. Forest department officers wasted no time and paid a visit to the hotel, where they found the turtle in Pathare’s fish tank. Pathare was promptly detained and taken in for questioning.
The Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, has been invoked in this case. The forest department is determined to crack down on the illegal wildlife trade in the state. Paranjape mentioned that keeping Schedule-1 species like the Indian roofed turtle in captivity is a serious offense that can result in up to seven years of imprisonment.
The authorities are now focused on uncovering the entire supply chain involved in this illegal activity. If Pathare claims ignorance about the turtle’s protected status, they will not hesitate to track down the original owner and investigate further.
Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story!
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