Turtle Killed for Epilepsy Cure Myth: Four Held in Bhavnagar Wildlife Crime Case

BHAVNAGAR : A shocking wildlife crime rooted in superstition has come to light in Gujarat’s Bhavnagar district, where four migrant labourers working at the city’s airport construction site were caught after allegedly killing a turtle and consuming its meat under the false belief that it could cure epilepsy.

The incident has sparked concern among wildlife officials and conservationists, who say myths surrounding the medicinal value of wild animals continue to threaten protected species despite growing awareness campaigns and strict wildlife laws.

According to the Bhavnagar Forest Department, the accused were employed at an ongoing construction project at Bhavnagar Airport. Investigators revealed that one of the workers, who reportedly suffers from epilepsy, had obtained two turtles believing that consuming turtle meat would help cure his medical condition. One turtle was allegedly killed and cooked, while another was kept alive before forest officials intervened.

Acting on a tip-off about illegal hunting activities in the airport area, forest department personnel conducted a raid and uncovered evidence of the offence. During the operation, officials recovered one live turtle and remains of the cooked animal. A forensic examination of the site was carried out in the presence of experts from the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL), veterinary officers and government representatives.

“Immediate action was taken after receiving information about wildlife hunting in the area. A live turtle was rescued and evidence related to the illegal killing of another turtle was seized from the site,” a forest department official said.

The accused have been identified as Ravin Paswan, Ram Pukar Paswan, Anand Kumar Mahanto and Vijay Kumar Mahanto, all natives of Bihar who were working as labourers at the airport project. Cases have been registered against them under various provisions of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, as amended in 2022.

The four accused were produced before a local court, where the forest department sought three days of remand to further investigate the source of the turtles and determine whether a larger wildlife trafficking network was involved.

Forest officials used the incident to reiterate the dangers of superstition and misinformation.

“Wild animals have no proven medicinal value for treating diseases such as epilepsy. Hunting, harming or possessing protected wildlife is a serious offence and carries strict legal consequences,” an official said.

The department has appealed to citizens to report any wildlife-related offences and avoid falling prey to myths that endanger both animals and biodiversity. The rescued turtle has been safely released, while the investigation remains ongoing.