Global News - July 2007
< Back to Global News
Tortoise smugglers apprehended
Wed 25 July 2007 16:50 UK — Asia
Two men have been arrested in India trying to smuggle over 850 endangered star tortoises onto a flight bound for Malaysia.
Officials reported on Tuesday (July 24th) that the arrests came after they were tipped off about the illegal movement of the rare animals.
On the basis of this information, arrests were made at Chennai's international airport late on Sunday (July 22nd).
The two smugglers were trying to get the reptiles out of the country in a suitcase and a cardboard box. The animals ranged in size from inch-long babies to adolescents the size of a fist.
"The suitcase contained 540 tortoises and the box, 330. The two suspects were handed over to the local wildlife authorities for further investigation," a Directorate of Revenue Intelligence official, who wished to protect his identity, told Bernama.
Although endangered, the star tortoises are eaten in some parts of Asia - they are also considered popular pets in some regions.
Earlier this year, officials in Kuala Lumpur caught an Indian man with over 300 of the creatures in his suitcase.
Under Indian law, the star tortoise is protected and people found guilty of illegally trafficking them face a prison sentence of up to three years.
< Back to Global News |
Read IAR News
Read IAR News >
|
June 2008
Update on IAR’s work in Indonesia
As well as macaques and slow lorises, our team in Indonesia has ended the suffering of a number of endangered Javan gibbons living in misery in a centre known as Cikananga. June 2008
IAR speaks out against the Great British Circus scandal
International Animal Rescue is urging people to stay away from the Great British Circus during its visit to Tonbridge because it uses a variety of animals in its acts, including lions, tigers, camels and zebras. |
