Three men have been booked under the Wildlife Protection Act for allegedly killing a turtle with an axe and consuming its meat in Madhya Pradesh’s Bhind district. The accused, who filmed the act, are currently absconding as Forest Department officials conduct search operations.
The incident occurred on August 28 after the accused captured a turtle from a local pond and brought it to Sikli Jagir village. The accused placed the turtle upside down on a road and proceeded to hack it to death with an axe while filming the act.
The viral video showed one perpetrator holding down the struggling turtle with a stick while another repeatedly strikes it with an axe. Several local residents can be seen standing nearby, watching the animal’s killing. After killing the turtle, the group cooked its meat and organised a community feast in the village, wildlife officials said.
After the video went viral, a Forest Department team led by Ranger Basant Sharma reached Sikli Jagir village on Saturday. The team conducted searches at the homes of the identified suspects, but found that they had already fled the area.
“Based on the video evidence, the accused have been identified. Our teams are conducting continuous search operations in the village and surrounding areas. The culprits will be arrested soon,” Ranger Sharma said.
Forest Department officials reported that search operations are intensifying with teams deployed across multiple locations. Said a senior wildlife officer, “Turtles, though often overlooked, play a vital ecological role in maintaining the balance of the aquatic ecosystem. They help control algae growth, clean water bodies, and serve as important indicators of environmental health. It is very important to educate villagers about what turtles do for our environment.”
