Wildlife officers in Embilipitiya have arrested a suspect accused of attempting to sell a protected marine snail shell valued at Rs. 500,000. The suspect was fined Rs. 40,000 after the shell was recovered during a raid.
A resident of the Padalangala area in Embilipitiya has been arrested following an attempt to sell the shell of a Horned Helmet snail, a protected species found in Sri Lankan waters. Wildlife officials conducted a raid on August 17 after discovering that the suspect had advertised the shell on social media for Rs. 500,000. The Department of Wildlife Conservation confirmed that both the suspect and the recovered shell were brought before the Embilipitiya Magistrate's Court, where the individual was ordered to pay a fine of Rs. 40,000.
The Horned Helmet snail, scientifically known as Cassis cornuta, derives its common name from distinctive markings on its shell that resemble maps. The species is a relatively large marine snail found in Sri Lankan coastal waters. Under the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance, the capture, possession, and trade of certain marine snail species are strictly prohibited to safeguard the nation's marine biodiversity.
The Department of Wildlife Conservation emphasizes that marine snails serve critical ecological functions in ocean environments. These organisms act as natural cleaners and regulators of seabed ecosystems, maintaining ecological balance. Certain species contribute to coral reef protection by consuming organisms harmful to coral growth. The raid was conducted by wildlife officials from the Panahaduwa Range Office of Udawalawe National Park.
