Udupi : Kollur wildlife department officials arrested three accused for catching tortoises and Indian black turtles from Kali river at Aloor village on Tuesday morning.

The arrested are Seena Koraga,38, a resident of Kollur Sauparnika Ghat, Chandra Koraga,38, a resident of Kollur Kalyanigudde and a minor boy who was with them. They are related and were capturing the animals to eat them.

A total 35 animals were saved, including 9 tortoises and 26 Indian black turtles. They had taken 15 turtles home on Monday, and had come to the river again to catch turtles. Police seized 15 shells of burnt turtles (10 shells from the house of Seena and 5 shells from house of Chandra). The turtles captured by the accused were a highly protected species as per Schedule Two of the Wildlife Protection Act 1972, and a case has been lodged against the accused in accordance with the Act, which will be heard at the Kundapur court.