Bhubaneswar, Sept. 3 -- Odisha Forest Department busted an alleged turtle smuggling racket in Malkangiri on Thursday. A total of 155 turtles were seized from an auto-rickshaw during a patrol near Tamasa. All the turtles were alive when they were rescued.

Forest personnel grew suspicious after they noticed an auto-rickshaw approaching the area at high speed. They reportedly attempted to stop the vehicle; however, upon seeing the officials, the driver abandoned the auto-rickshaw and fled the spot.

According to reports, forest officials searched the abandoned vehicle and found a large number of live turtles inside. The 155 turtles were safely rescued and the auto-rickshaw was seized.

Forest personnel launched an investigation to identify ...