Two arrested for trying to sell star tortoise in Madikeri

A star tortoise (Geochelone) captured by the CID Forest Mobile Unit in Madikeri on Tuesday (June 16). | Photo credit: Special arrangement

The CID Forest Mobile Squad nabbed two persons trying to sell the star tortoise, also called as Geochelone, in Madikeri on Tuesday (June 16).

Here it is said that the Madikeri unit personnel received a tip-off that two individuals were trying to sell a star tortoise at a bus shelter near Kannanda Padubeeru Circle in Madikeri.

Detectives raided the site on June 16 around 6:30 p.m., caught two people and confiscated the turtle. The arrested have been identified as Sreedharan CK (70) and Vishnu Acharya (68), both residents of Kasargod district in Kerala.

The accused were produced before the court and remanded in judicial custody. The raid was conducted by Shivashankar and his staff comprising Umesh NK, Sharanth KP, Divyashree and Swamy M. of the CID Forest Mobile Unit under the guidance of Sangeetha G., Deputy Inspector General of Police, CID Forest Unit, Bengaluru, and Pawan Netturu, Superintendent of Police, CID Forest Unit.

The public can alert the authorities about illegal activities related to forest laws and wildlife protection by contacting CID Forest Unit, Superintendent of Police Madikeri: 9480800220 and CID Forest Mobile Unit, Madikeri Office: 8277949812, a press release said.

Published – 17 Jun 2026 22:31 IST