Intentional poisoning is probably the cause of the death of dozens of turtles in a lake near Bombay (India), Indian wildlife experts told AFP on Sunday.

Conservation officers were notified of the incident by a local politician.

The latter asked them to investigate a foul smell around the Kalyan body of water, about 50 kilometers east of India's entertainment capital.

Suhas Pawar, from the conservation group Wild Animal and Reptile Rescue, said 57 turtles of the clamshell turtle species were killed and six others were rescued.

Locals likely killed the reptiles to prevent them from eating the fish they illegally farmed in the lake, he added.

No more turtles due to Covid-19

"The incident is under investigation now, post-mortem and scientific analysis will reveal the exact cause of these deaths," Suhas Pawar said.

According to this expert, the restrictions imposed against Covid-19 over the past two years have likely led to an increase in the local turtle population.

"Restrictions on human activity have probably increased fish stocks in the lake and these turtles have multiplied by feeding on them, which has angered some locals," said Suhas Pawar.

Clamshells are not particularly rare but they are a protected species under the Wildlife Protection Act.

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