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Time of India
6 days ago
- Time of India
Three held smuggling parrots in bus
Varanasi: Forest officials busted a racket involved in the illegal trade of birds of endangered species on Sunday in Varanasi. Three smugglers were arrested with 28 live parrots packed in a carton box, smuggled from Jharkhand. Forest Conservator (Varanasi) Ravi Kumar Singh said that, after receiving a tip-off, a team of officials raided the Andharapul team, led by Regional Forest Officer Ravindra Yadav and Deputy Regional Forest Officer Rajkumar Gautam, recovered 28 live parrots in a carton from a bus. Bus driver Dhananjay Singh, conductor Abhay Singh alias Kanhaiya, and Md Arif were arrested and the bus was seized. On being questioned they revealed that the birds were transported from Garhwa, Jharkhand, by Md Arif of Varanasi. The recovered birds are protected under the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972. Legal proceedings are underway under sections 9, 39, 48 (b) (I) & (II), 49 (b) (IV), 51, and 57 of the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972. Singh appealed to citizens to report any illegal trade involving these species to the office's phone numbers: 0542-2585444 and 0542-2585574.
Time of India
24-05-2025
- General
- Time of India
‘Turtles are key indicators of healthy environ, awareness must to save them'
1 2 Varanasi: To mark World Turtle Day, the forest department on Friday organised a seminar at Sarnath Zoo to raise awareness and sensitivity towards conservation of turtles. Every year on May 23, World Turtle Day is celebrated to raise awareness about the declining number of turtles globally, protect their habitats, arrange for their rehabilitation, and rescue them. Forest conservator of Varanasi Circle Ravi Kumar Singh said "Turtles are one of the oldest living species in the world, dating back about 200 million years, existing even before birds, snakes and lizards. Their presence in the ecosystem is crucial as they are considered indicators of a healthy environment. They play a significant role in the food chain, and their existence is vital for controlling several plant and fish species. " He said there are over 300 species of turtles worldwide, with around 130 declared endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). In India, there are 29 species of turtles, including 24 species of tortoises (land turtles) and 5 species of sea turtles. Most of these turtles are protected under various schedules of the Indian Wildlife Protection Act of 1972. According to him, India is home to five species of sea turtles, including Olive Ridley, Leatherback, Loggerhead, Green Turtle and Hawksbill. The first three are classified as Vulnerable by the IUCN, the Green Turtle is Endangered, and the Hawksbill is Critically Endangered. Without conservation efforts, these species may soon become extinct. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Brother's Day wishes , messages and quotes !
Time of India
23-05-2025
- General
- Time of India
Forest department hosts seminar at Varanasi's Sarnath Zoo on World Turtle Day
Representative Image VARANASI: The forest department organised a seminar at Sarnath Zoo on Friday to raise awareness and sensitivity towards turtle conservation on World Turtle Day. Every year on May 23, World Turtle Day is celebrated to raise awareness about the declining number of turtles globally, protect their habitats, arrange for their rehabilitation, and rescue them. Ravi Kumar Singh, Forest Conservator of Varanasi Circle, said that turtles are one of the oldest living species in the world, dating back about 200 million years, existing even before birds, snakes, and lizards. Their presence in the ecosystem is crucial as they are considered indicators of a healthy environment. They play a significant role in the food chain, and their existence is vital for controlling several plant and fish species. He said that today, there are over 300 species of turtles worldwide, with around 130 declared endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). In India, there are 29 species of turtles, including 24 species of tortoises (land turtles) and 5 species of sea turtles. Most of these turtles are protected under various schedules of the Indian Wildlife Protection Act of 1972. According to him, India is home to five species of sea turtles, including Olive Ridley , Leatherback, Loggerhead, Green Turtle, and Hawksbill. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Thousands Are Saving Money Using This Wall Plug elecTrick - Save upto 80% on Power Bill Click Here Undo The first three are classified as Vulnerable by the IUCN, the Green Turtle is Endangered, and the Hawksbill is Critically Endangered. Without conservation efforts, these species may soon become extinct. Dr Ravi Kumar Singh, Forest Conservator of Varanasi Circle, stated that on the occasion of World Turtle Day, a seminar on turtle conservation will be organised at Sarnath Zoo at 11:30 AM to raise awareness and sensitivity towards turtle conservation.
Hindustan Times
22-05-2025
- General
- Hindustan Times
World Turtle Day today: Sarnath breeding centre boosting conservation efforts
The Sarnath Turtle Breeding and Rehabilitation Centre, which was renovated and redeveloped in 2017, has conserved 3,298 turtles from 2017 to 2025 and released them into the Ganga to keep the ecosystem of the river healthy in Varanasi. The Sarnath Turtle Breeding and Rehabilitation Centre, an important centre of aquatic biodiversity, has emerged as an example of success of conservation in the Ganga River Basin. The inclusion of the Turtle Rehabilitation Centre in Namami Gange since 2017 has also reduced smuggling of turtles. Chief forest conservator, Varanasi Division, Dr Ravi Kumar Singh, said that in the last eight years, 3,231 eggs were hatched at the Turtle Breeding and Rehabilitation Centre and were released in different rivers, including Ganga. He explained that the Centre was established in 1978 under the Ganga Action Plan and later the turtle sanctuary was declared in Varanasi in 1989. In the early 2000s, the centre faced several operational and infrastructure problems. But the change came in 2017 when the government included it in Component IV-Rescue and Rehabilitation of the Namami Gange programme, a joint effort of the Uttar Pradesh Forest Department and the Wildlife Institute of India (WII). The centre is currently playing a vital role in the conservation, rehabilitation and release of thousands of freshwater turtles. At the centre, since 2017, the turtle ponds were redesigned, advanced bio-filtration and aeration systems were installed. Natural materials like logs, aquatic vegetation, haul-out mats and sunbathing platforms were installed. Separate ponds were created for juvenile turtles, while larger turtles (up to 50 kg) were kept in newly renovated ponds, he added. Keeping in mind the turtle's preferred diet, the diet now includes live fish for carnivore turtles, plant material for herbivore turtles and a mixed diet for omnivores. Turtles are now released into the Ganga only after rigorous medical and behavioural evaluation, to ensure long-term survival and ecosystem integration. As a result, the Sarnath Turtle Breeding and Rehabilitation Centre is becoming a national model for turtle conservation and a centre that is playing a role in keeping the ecosystem of rivers healthy.
Time of India
03-05-2025
- Time of India
Illegal immigration network busted, 47 Bangladeshi people apprehended
New Delhi: Delhi Police dismantled an illegal immigration network , apprehending 47 Bangladeshi nationals and five Indian collaborators in coordinated raids in Delhi, Chennai and Assam. The foreign nationals were brought to the city by agents, provided with fake identity documents and were embedded in low-wage sectors. Over 100 Bangladeshi nationals and their associated agents are under investigation for the racket. The arrested Indians had provided them shelter, arranged fake identity documents, and given them employment. Ravi Kumar Singh, DCP (Southeast), said the operation began on March 12 with the arrest of a Bangladeshi citizen named Aslam, who had illegally entered India a few days before that. Aslam was part of a larger human trafficking racket that facilitated the illegal entry and settlement of Bangladeshi nationals in India. Based on his interrogation, police apprehended five other Bangladeshis, including kingpin Chand Miya, and five Indian facilitators. You Can Also Check: Delhi AQI | Weather in Delhi | Bank Holidays in Delhi | Public Holidays in Delhi The foreigners, among them Mohammad Ali Hussain, entered India in 2024 and worked as a labourer. Mohammad Mizan came around 2011–12 and obtained an Aadhaar card using a fake address. Fatima Afross, who holds a master's degree in English, came to city illegally in Aug 2024. Radish Mulla arrived three years ago and acquired Aadhaar documents with forged papers. Miya himself had come to India at the age of four with his father, a garbage picker in Seemapuri. The family later moved to Taimoor Nagar before Chand relocated to Chennai. For over a decade, he trafficked Bangladeshi nationals into India, charging each person around Rs 25,000. He frequently crossed the border via West Bengal and Meghalaya and facilitated Aslam's entry in March 2025. The investigation identified 41 other Bangladeshis, 33 from Chennai and the rest from other locations. "One of the suspects involved in the racket was also nabbed in Assam," police said. The cops revealed that the immigrants crossed the border with the help of local traffickers and then travelled by train to Delhi. There local contacts helped them procure Aadhaar and PAN cards, often leveraging their original Bangladeshi IDs. Others then got them employment as labourers, ragpickers and low-wage workers. The five Indians involved were Mohammad Anis, Ranjan Kumar Yadav, Rahisuddin Ali, Shabbir and Lokman Ali — each having a role in document forgery or logistics. Anis, a post-graduate from Seetapur, runs a shop in southeast Delhi's Taimoor Nagar since 2012. From his premises, police recovered fake Aadhaar and voter cards, biometric scanners, computer, hard disk and forged documents plus Rs 19,170 in cash. "He used to prepare the forged identity documents," an officer said. Yadav, a post-graduate from Bihar, worked as an Aadhaar operator and was found in possession of a hard disk with records of the foreign nationals for whom he created Aadhaar cards. Ali, who runs a shop in Jasola, had forged caste and birth certificates and had a laptop and a printer. Shabbir from Faridabad assisted in forging Aadhaar cards and had prior criminal involvement. Lokman from Assam transported the immigrants from border points to Guwahati, aiding their dispersal across India. The recovered items included 11 fake Aadhaar cards, Bangladeshi ID documents, computers, hard disks, biometric scanners, forged birth and caste certificates, nine mobile phones with SIMs and cash.
