KATHMANDU: Police arrested five persons with an alive tortoise, a protected animal, from Sundhara of Kathmandu on Friday.

A team deployed from the Central Investigation Bureau of Nepal Police nabbed Sher Bahadur Aale Magar (49) from Manpang-5 of Tanahun, Manoj Gurung (46) from Khalanga-4 of Syangja, Hum Bahadur Gurung (50) from Duradanda-1 of Lamjung, Bikram Thapa (28) from Byas Municipality-1 of Tanahun and Mahendra Gurung (40) from Manbu-3 of Gorka.

While the animal has been sent to the Jawalakhel-based Central Zoo, police have handed over the suspects to Hatttisar-based Kathmandu District Forests Office for investigations and actions.