One of the four albino turtles, handed over to the Dehiwala zoo from the Kosgoda turtle hatchery as per a court order, has died due to a suspected illness, a spokesman for the zoo said today.
The Balapitiya Magistrate’s Court last Thursday (January 16) ordered the owner of the Kosgoda turtle hatchery to handover 4 albino turtles he owns to the Dehiwala zoo.
Accordingly two small albino turtles and two big turtles were handed over to the zoo while one of the small turtles died last evening, the spokesman said.
He stated that the baby turtle in question had refused food since arriving at the zoo and that they suspect it had been suffering from an illness.
The owner and an employee of the Kosgoda turtle hatchery were arrested on January 15 for lodging a false complaint with police claiming that an albino turtle was missing.
The albino turtle that went missing from the Kosgoda turtle hatchery was allegedly found when a similar turtle was discovered in a home in Ambalangoda.
However, reports had stated that the weight of the turtle that has been found does not match the missing one.
The rare albino turtle went missing from the hatchery on December 15, 2013 while the owner of the establishment had made a complaint to the police. The Kosgoda police began an investigation into the incident while the Matara police too held its own investigations.
Police had received information that sea water was being carried three times a day into the house of the hatchery owner’s daughter. Upon searching the home, an albino turtle weighing 5½ kg was discovered.
However, according to the initial complaint made by the hatchery owner, the missing turtle weighed 9½ kg.
Police also questioned popular singer Amal Perera regarding the turtle as the hatchery owner reported that Perera approached him in order to buy the turtle some time ago. Perera confirmed that the turtle that was found was indeed the turtle that he inquired about.
Both suspects were released on bail after being produced before the Balapitiya Magistrate.
The passports of both suspects were also ordered to be handed over to the court.
