870 Star Tortoises seized in India

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http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v3/news.php?id=275044

July 23, 2007 22:26 PM

 

 

*Two Malaysia-Bound Air Passengers Held With 870 Protected Tortoises*

 

**

 

*By P. Vijian*

 

CHENNAI, July 23 (Bernama) -- In a pre-dawn raid today, India's Directorate

of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) sleuths seized 870 endangered live Star

tortoises from two Malaysia-bound passengers at the Chennai International

Airport.

 

Following a tip-off, the DRI officers trailed the two Indian nationals who

were carrying a suitcase and a cardboard box.

 

When questioned by the authorities on their contents, they replied the

suitcase contained clothing and the cardboard box, spices.

 

However, the dissatisfied officers opened their belongings and discovered

hidden inside the suitcase and the cardboard box about 1,000 Star tortoises

which could easily fetch about RM100,000 (about one million Rupees) in the

international market.

 

" The suitcase contained 540 tortoises and the box, 330. The two suspects

were handed over to the local wildlife authorities for further

investigation, " a DRI official, who declined to be named, told Bernama.

 

The Star-patterned tortoises are frequently smuggled from India to Southeast

Asian countries where there is a growing demand for the endangered species,

which are often used for medicinal purposes or end up as exotic dishes in

restaurants or are sent to pet shops.

 

In April this year, Malaysian Customs authorities detained an Indian

national at the KL International Airport trying to smuggle into the country

about 400 live Star tortoises that were kept in a cabin luggage.

 

The confiscated tortoises were flown back to India in May.

 

India has classified the Star tortoise under Schedule 4 of the Wildlife

Protection Act, which makes breeding and transporting the species an

offence.