Locals rescue rare yellow turtle in Odisha's Balasore

Locals in Balasore, Odisha rescued a unique and rare yellow turtle which was later handed over to the forest department officials. Odisha is home to over 90 per cent of India's turtle population.

Balasore (Odisha): A unique and rare yellow turtle was rescued by locals from Sujanpur village in Soro block of Balasore district on Sunday.

The locals then called the Forest Department officials to the spot and handed over the turtle to them.

Speaking about the rescued reptile, Bhanoomitra Acharya, Wildlife Warden, said that it was a unique find and he had never seen a specimen like this before.

"The whole shell and the body of the rescued turtle is yellow. This is a rare turtle, I have never seen one like this," Acharya said.

Last month, a rare species of Trionychidae turtle was caught by fishermen at Deuli Dam under the Mayurbhanj district of Odisha.

It was later released by the forest department in Deuli dam. Trionychidae turtles are softshell turtles, which are found in Africa, Asia, and North America.

According to the forest department, the turtle weighed more than 30 kilograms and its maximum life is 50 years.

Earlier, a turtle of a rare variety was found during the construction of Biju Expressway near Bhimkhoj Pada Road in Dharamgarh of Kalahandi district in Odisha.

Later, forest officials reached the spot and rescued the 42-kilogram turtle.

Odisha is also famous for Olive Ridley turtle and the state is home to over 90 per cent of India's turtle population.

(ANI REPORT)