Three people were arrested Tuesday in India for selling and possessing two rare Flap-shell turtles. The home of the man who owned the turtles was raided by police and the turtles were seized and handed over to the proper authorities. During questioning the subject revealed the two individuals he purchased the turtles from. These two people were subsequently arrested.

These turtles are considered very rare. Buyers from around the world are willing to pay a very high price for a pair of these turtles. The suspect stated that he intended to sell them.

The suspects were arrested and charged with wildlife violations. These soft shell turtles, often found in shallow water and slow moving streams, are also a delicacy in the Asian area. There are three main species that are found throughout the region.

Many poorer areas use the more common type of the Flap-shell turtle as a main staple in their diets. Flap-shell turtles can also be found in Pakistan and Myanmar. Authorities will continue to search for people who may be in connection with this case and other cases related to rare animal trafficking. It is currently unknown how many of these rare turtles are actually left in the wild.