Forest officials rescue turtles from the campus of a private medical college in Bhubaneswar. Telegraph picture

Bhubaneswar, Sept. 5: The city forest division officials today seized six turtles from a decorative pool fountain of a private medical college and hospital in Pandara on the outskirts of the city.

The officials arrested the administrator of the college on charges of illegal possession of the reptiles.

This was the second seizure of turtles in the city in the last 24 hours.

Yesterday, officials had seized three turtles from a water tank at a vending zone near Nalco Square.

The officials said they conducted the raid at the college around 8am following a tip-off against the college authorities.

The turtles were found in their indoor decorative pool fountain near the reception lobby.

“We seized four Indian softshell turtles (Lissemys punctata) and two river tent turtles (Kachuga tecta) from the pool. These turtles are all full grown, weighing around 1.5kg each,” said Ashok Mishra, range officer, Mancheswar forest range.

He added that they suspected these animals were kept there for decorative purposes, which was also illegal.

The officials said they would release the animals in Kuasaura, a waterbody in the Bharatpur reserve forest, after producing them in the court.

Although the authorities could not say why the turtles had been kept illegally, the forest officials arrested the college administrator, Jyotirmaya Panda, 39, as he was in charge of the entire building.

The range officer said the administrator pleaded innocence during interrogation. Under Schedule I, Part II of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, anyone possessing these turtles is liable to be punished.

Mishra said a case was registered under sections 9 and 51 of the Wildlife Protection Act and the administrator was produced before the local court, which rejected his bail plea and sent him to 15 days judicial custody at Jharapada jail.

Honorary wildlife warden of Khurda district Subhendu Mallick, who had accompanied the raiding team, said the private college had kept the turtles for a long time.

“After the incident came to our notice through people who visit the hospital, we informed the forest officials,” said Mallick.