Tamil Nadu forest officials seize processed seahorse, pipefish near Thondi; 3 arrested

Ramanathapuram: Tamil Nadu forest personnel on Wednesday (December 12) seized about 79 kg of processed pipefish and 3kg of processed seahorses, the endangered species protected under Schedule I (Part 2-A) of the Wildlife Protection Act.

The officials also seized a minivan that was used for transporting the species.

Acting on a piece of information, the forest officials, who were patrolling the Pasipattinam seashore area near Thondi on Wednesday, caught M Muthuraja (28) in possession of 107 processed pipefish and 13 seahorses.

After questioning him, the forest personnel raided the surrounding area and seized the processed seahorse and pipefish after arresting two more accused - A Sardar (46) and S Sakthivel (23)- S Sathish, Forest Range Officer, said.