Balasore, Nov. 23: Officials of the wildlife division rescued 19 turtles from an artificial tank near Station Square and released them into the Budhabalanga river.

The Indian softshell turtles, classified as a Schedule I species under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, were rescued yesterday in a raid conducted by local range officer Prafulla Mallick and his team.

"After we received information about the illegal confinement of turtles, we rescued them from the tank and released them in their natural habitat, the Budhabalanga river," said Mallick.

This is the second time the wildlife division rescued turtles from the same tank.

Shopkeepers of a market complex near Station Square were rearing the turtles in the water tank. The turtles had been an attraction to shoppers and passers-by.

"The turtles were being deprived of their natural environment for growing, mating and laying of eggs," said divisional forest officer Harshbardhan Udgata.