Call for tortoise importation ban

[Guest guest]

Tortoise Protection Group

 

(tortoises taken from the wild by the sack load) “Illegal tortoise trade is happening in Britain” (DEFRA, 2004).An estimated 10 million tortoises were shipped into the UK for the pet trade between 1890 and 1984 before the initial ban was introduced. This trade is back! … and tortoises are being imported in substantial numbers. However, DEFRA are failing to prevent this illegal trade and are in fact licensing it. These tortoises go through untold misery and often arrive here with chronic worm infestations and dehydrated, which far too often contributes to their early demise.The Tortoise Protection Group (TPG) is campaigning for a ban on the importation of tortoises for the pet trade. Please help us keep tortoises in their natural environment by signing this petition. We the undersigned support the TPG in its call for a ban on this cruel trade.

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/769012123

 

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Tesco's and Walmart Stores in China Guilty of Sending Turtles to Extinction

"The last things the turtles see in the Wal-Mart megastore in northern Beijing are bright fluorescent lights, masked shop assistants and, if they crane their necks over the edge of their plastic container, a chalk board offering them for sale at the bargain price of 39,8 yuan (about $5) each.Once that sum is paid, even their shells cannot protect them. They are whisked off to the in-store slaughter counter, where their necks are cut, their blood is drained and they are bagged and tagged ready for the checkout counter.According to the shop assistant, a small minority of the 100 turtles sold every day could also expect a brief respite. “A few customers like to take them home alive so they can play with them for a few days before making them into soup,” she said."

 

from http://www.tortoisetrust.org/activities/tesco.html

'In addition to the truly disgraceful welfare aspects of this trade, the consumption of turtles specifically in China has resulted in the near extinction of a large number of species. I would draw your attention to the following highly reputable reports:http://www.traffic.org/news/turtles.htmlhttp://nytts.org/asianturtlecrisis.htmlhttp://www.tortoisetrust.org/articles/asia.htmlYou will note that these reports are endorsed by the Worldwide Fund for Nature, the IUCN, and TRAFFIC International, and have been prepared by the top specialists in this field. There is absolutely no doubt whatever that the trade Tesco is now involved with is ecologically disastrous, is totally unsustainable, and is causing immense (and unrecoverable) damage to endangered turtle populations in the region.'This from http://www.tortoise-aid.org/walmart.html'Until Wal-Mart ceases this environmentally and ethically unacceptable practice, we are asking for a world-wide boycott of Wal-Mart, and all Wal-Mart divisions. These businesses include:Sam’s Club: USA, Canada: http://www.samsclub.comAmigo Supermarkets: Puerto Rico: http://www.amigo.comASDA: United Kingdom: http://www.adsa.co.ukSeiyou:Japan: http://www.seiyu.co.jp/english/Walmex: (Wal-Mart in Mexico)George Apparel Stores: United KingdomFor a complete list of Wal-Mart owned businesses, please go to: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_assets_owned_by_Wal-Mart_Stores,_Inc .We kindly ask that all individuals, humane organizations and businesses objecting to Wal-Mart’s cruel practices, and who support this boycott to voice your concerns to:Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.702 S.W. 8th StreetBentonville, AR 72716-8611USAYou may contact Wal-Mart via e-mail at its corporate web site:http://walmartstores.com/GlobalWMStoresWeb/navigate.do?catg=221An online petition is also available at: http://www.petitiononline.com/tortaid1/petition.htmlPlease take a moment to read and sign it. Thank you.'