Operation “Kachchhap”

Context

Recently, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) conducted a successful operation called “Kachchhap”.

Operation Kachchhap:

This operation resulted in the recovery of the 955 live baby turtles, including species like the Indian Tent Turtle, Indian Flapshell Turtle, Crown River Turtle, Black Spotted/Pond Turtle, and Brown Roofed Turtle.
The DRI had received intelligence about a syndicate engaged in the illegal trafficking and trading of these turtles, some of which are considered vulnerable or near-threatened species according to the IUCN Red List and are protected under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.

About Gangetic Turtles:

Indian Gangetic turtle has tube-like snout and incredibly flattened shell.
They have a round to oval, smooth upper shell (carapace), which is olive or green in colour with a yellow border.
The limbs are also green, while the shell on the underside of the turtle’s body is grey to cream.
It has a broad head, with several black stripes running from the centre towards the sides
This large softshell inhabits deep rivers, streams, and large canals, lakes and ponds with mud and sand bottoms.
They are mostly omnivorous, eating not only mollusks, insects, fish, amphibians, waterfowl and carrion, but aquatic plants as well.

Major Threats:

Habitat loss due to the pollution, closure of canals, introduction of dams, tidal barrages, channelization, flood plain drainage and partial threats are the expansion of agriculture.
Commercial exploitation due to professional fishing and meat consumption.
Reduction of fish stock, as a result of overfishing.

Retribution for the south, accolade for the north

Polity & Governance Parliamentary committee

Historic with a small ‘H’

Economy Growth and Development

Keeping tabs on carbon with an accounting system

Ecology and Environment Climate Change

Glacial lake outburst Floods (GLOF)

Geography Climatology

Central Universities (Amendment) Bill, 2023

Polity & Governance Acts and Amendments

Green Shipping in India

Ecology and Environment Environmental Pollution