BANGKOK, Oct 27 (TNA) – Forty-six rare Malagasy turtles were seized on Tuesday, following a request to Thailand by the Japanese government to follow up and arrest a gang of endangered animal smugglers under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES-listed species).
The suspect, Thanach Prapakornnichakul, told investigators that she was simply a member of a Malagasy-turtles lover association, but the authorities found evidence of buying and selling turtles on the internet to customers in Japan, China and Taiwan. A tortoise costs from as little as 10,000 to 100,000 baht depending on its species.
All the seized turtles, whose origin natural habitat is in Madagascar, are of the Unifora, Elegans, Radiata and Fixis species. For the Unifora species alone, only less than 200 are found worldwide.
If found guilty, the suspect could face a four-year imprisonment or a fine of 40,000 baht, or both, according to Thailand’s Wild Animal Reservation and Protection Act and Customs Act. The tortoises will be further cared for at the National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department. (TNA)
General News : Last Update : 17:22:22 27 October 2009 (GMT+7:00)
|
