The rescued tortoise. Two held for smuggling tortoises at Tripura-Mizoram border Image: Northeast Now
Representative image (File image)

Amid reports of wild animals straying out of their natural habitats during the 21-day nationwide lockdown, a tortoise was rescued at Hasantuka near Rangia on Wednesday morning.

The tortoise was basking in the sand dunes when a local villager, who went to take bath in the Boralia river, spotted the tortoise and rescued.

He was helped by several other villagers including the village head.

The tortoise weighs around 15 kilograms.

The tortoise was later handed over to the  North Kamrup Forest Range officials.

“We have taken the tortoise for its safe custody and after examining its prima facie health will make arrangements for its release,” said Hafiz Ahmed an official of the range.

Shajid Khan is Northeast Now Correspondent in Udalguri. He can be reached at: [email protected]