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Malaysia seizes 3,300 rare turtles from a boat in suspected trafficking case

Malaysian authorities seized about 3,300 rare pig-nosed turtles on Wednesday suspected of being smuggled into the Southeast Asian country.

The turtles, found in Australia and on the Indonesian island of Papua, are endangered due to high demand from exotic pet traders, wildlife experts said.

Seven packages of turtles were discovered during a boat inspection near Johor on Malaysia’s southern coast, the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) said in a statement, adding that two people were arrested.

The value of the seized turtles was estimated at $36,909, the agency said. “We believe they were brought into the country to be sold as exotic pets,” an MMEA spokesman said. Apart from being sold as live pets, conservationists say the pig-nosed turtle is often hunted for meat consumption and for use in traditional medicines in some Asian countries.

Malaysia is considered a major transit point for the illegal trafficking of endangered species to other parts of Asia.

(Reuters reporting by Rozanna Latiff; editing by Darren Schuettler)

 

Source : marinelink.com

Hundreds of tiny animals were so happy to scurry back home again ❤️

Soon after some large, flat shipping crates arrived at the Hong Kong International Airport back in January, customs officials discovered something unexpected inside.

The nearly 600 rare pig-nosed turtles were saved from illegal wildlife traffickers just in time — but to get them back where they belong, thousands of miles away, would take months of tremendous effort.

The finding was surprising — but, sadly, not very unusual. This was far from the first time this type of turtle has been plucked from traffickers at the last moment.

Even though the species is considered vulnerable, over 35,000 pig-nosed turtles have been confiscated in Hong Kong and Indonesia (where their natural habitats are) since 2010.

In January alone, at the Hong Kong International Airport, three separate seizures occurred and over 2,000 of these turtles were confiscated from traffickers.

Because people want to use the turtles for myriad reasons — sometimes they are in demand for use in traditional Eastern medicine, others want to eat them as a delicacy and still others want to keep them in captivity as pets — pig-nosed turtle eggs are taken from the wild in Papua New Guinea and then incubated until they hatch, according to International Animal Rescue (IAR), one of the organizations that helps save these animals.

“The hatchlings are sold to traders who can export them to major cities in Java,” IAR wrote in a press release. “A small proportion are sold domestically for the pet trade and the rest are shipped internationally via sea or air to satisfy increasing foreign demand.”

Source: thedodo.com

(HONG KONG, 24th August, 2018) In January this year 658 Pig-nosed Turtles smuggled from Indonesia to Hong Kong, were seized by Hong Kong Customs officers. The turtles were sent to the KFBG Wild Animal Rescue Centre for temporary care. Today 596 turtles have started the long journey back to their native home in West Papua, Indonesia, a repatriation project that has involved collaboration between KFBG, the AFCD, the Ministry of Forestry of the Republic of Indonesia and International Animal Rescue (IAR) Indonesia.

The confiscation and arrival at the KFBG Wild Animal Rescue Centre
On 12 January, the Pig-nosed Turtles (Carettochelys insculpta) were intercepted at the Hong Kong International Airport and seized by the Hong Kong Customs. All of the turtles were packed into the smuggler’s check in luggage on a flight from Soekarno Hatta International Airport, Jakarta, Indonesia to the Hong Kong SAR. The black market value of the 658 Pig-nosed turtles was estimated at HK$526,400.

The offender was later fined HK$20,000 by the courts. KFBG Wild Animal Rescue Centre received the turtles and assessed their health condition, fortunately most were alive although several were in poor condition as a result of the cruel transport conditions. Significant costs were incurred by KFBG in caring for the animals for eight months.

Repatriation process
KFBG and the HKSAR Government have collaborated closely on such repatriation projects. The present case is the third repatriation for Pig-nosed Turtles to Indonesia. The collaboration between the Ministry of Forestry of the Republic of Indonesia, the AFCD and International Animal Rescue (IAR) Indonesia followed a similar course to that of a transfer undertaken in 2011, when over 600 turtles were successfully repatriated and released in the Maro River adjacent to Bupul Village in Papua, Indonesia.

Following the same protocol as previous case the turtles were carefully packed in specially prepared plastic boxes containing water and with air holes, all boxes were then placed in a wooden transport crate. The transport of live animals by air is governed by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Live Animal Regulations and care was taken to strictly follow the regulations. KFBG covered most of the costs of this important repatriation exercise, while the AFCD, IAR, The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and Toronto Zoo kindly contributed to the funding.

The long journey back to the wild has just commenced, and together the partners in this commendable action are hopeful that all of the turtles that left Hong Kong will be released in West Papua in the coming days. Specialist staff from KFBG have joined the long trip by air and road to the release site in a remote part of West Papua and will be reporting on the final stages of the journey.

Plight of the Pig-nosed Turtles
Pig-nosed Turtles, also known as Fly-River Turtles, are almost entirely aquatic. Their unusual appearance and aquatic habits have made them popular as exotic pets and this has resulted in a massive illegal trade which is unsustainable and is causing a decline of the population of wild freshwater turtles.

Each year females migrate to sandy river banks to lay their eggs. The eggs are harvested for food, and hatchlings are collected by illegal traders for the global pet trade. The criminals make high profits at the expense of the suffering of many turtles, which are crammed into cases or small boxes during the illegal trafficking process. It is important that the judicial system in Hong Kong recognizes the cruelty and high value that wildlife crime like this smuggling case profits the traffickers; and the high cost of care and repatriation.

The species is classified as Vulnerable (VN) on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Endangered Species. Pig-nosed Turtles were listed in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) in 2005, recognizing the vulnerability of the species.

However, it is sometimes possible to find young Pig-nosed Turtles on sale in Hong Kong. Apart from being illegal to own, this species is unsuitable as a pet as it would require an extremely large aquatic facility when it reaches full adult size.

What you can do
Today, habitat loss, un-sustainable collection for food, traditional medicine and the wildlife trade are the major global threats faced by many wild turtles and other wildlife. You can help save these endangered animals by not buying live wildlife, and not consuming or buying wildlife products. You should also report any suspected illegal activities involving wildlife to the Police.

2011 Story: https://www.kfbg.org/eng/blogs/going-home.aspx

 

Source : kfbg.org

Jakarta. Papua Police have rescued 1,161 baby pig-nosed turtles, presumably hidden by smugglers at Mopah Airport in Merauke.

The animals were kept in six plastic boxes and hidden in two suitcases left at the airport’s waiting room, Merauke Police chief Sr. Comr. Bahara Marpaung said on Tuesday (09/01), as quoted by Antara news agency.

An X-ray examination showed there were turtles inside.

“There are 1,161 baby turtles in both suitcases, and we suspect they were going to be smuggled out of Papua,” Bahara said.

The police will seek assistance of the provincial conservation agency to keep the baby pig-nosed turtles (Carettochelys insculpta) alive and return them to their habitat.

The pig-nosed turtle is found only in northern Australia and southern New Guinea. The species is protected under Indonesian law.

The turtles, which have distinctive snout-like noses and webbed feet, are often smuggled from Papua for illegal animal trade.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) lists the pig-nosed turtle as “vulnerable” and trade of the species is restricted.

 

Source : jakartaglobe.id

Smuggling of the Pig nosed turtle indigenous to Australia and Papua New Guinea to sell on the Black market has come to a point where the animal is now considered endangered.

While most of the smuggling is done through the Indonesian border, these animals which were once caught as food are now used to generate income for the locals in the Western Province.

According to a newly-released report by Traffic, an international watchdog group that monitors the wildlife trade, the pig-nosed turtle is under threat from exotic pet traders.

The report states that between 2003 and 2013, more than 80,000 of the turtles were confiscated in 30 seizures. That includes a massive bust of 8,368 turtles found smuggled inside suitcases in Papua New Guinea and Indonesia in January 2013.

While the PNG government is aware of the current situation and has tried to address the issue of smuggling, PNG’s geographical remoteness and funding constraints have made the task quite difficult.

Today the illegal trade of animals as a whole constitutes an estimated $10 billion global industry that is expanding annually.

 

Source : postcourier.com.pg

NEW YORK (June 26, 2017) – Scientists from WCS and other groups have found that the pig-nosed turtle (Carettochelys insculpta) has joined a select group of chatty chelonians that can vocalize. The researchers recorded 182 calls from seven individuals in the wild and in a private breeding facility and found that the turtles communicate with each other while feeding, basking, and nesting.

The researchers published their study in the journal Copeia. Authors include Camila Ferrara, Aquatic Turtle Specialist for WCS; Richard Vogt of the Instituto Nacional de Pequisas da Amazônia; Carla Eisemberg of Charles Darwin University; and J. Sean Doody of the University of Tennessee.

Until recently, scientists believed that most freshwater turtles did not have complex social interactions or postnatal parental care.

The pig-nosed turtle, also called the Fly River turtle, is found in Australia, New Guinea, and Indonesia. It is classified as Vulnerable by IUCN due to the illegal wildlife trade and habitat loss.

Said WCS’s Camila Ferrara, lead author of the study: “Understanding how turtles communicate is important to help to protect them. Noise pollution produced by ships, boats, jet skis, and other motorized watercraft may affect the reception of sound by turtles and potentially interfere with their communication.”

In addition, Ferrara notes that current conservation strategies, which include isolating young individuals in captivity after hatching, might be negatively impacting important social interactions among females and hatchlings.

In 2014, WCS documented vocalization in giant South American river turtles In Brazil. Since the publication of those findings, managers now immediately release hatchlings instead of holding them for up to a month before releasing them into the wild as part of a head-starting program.

WCS’s Bronx Zoo has Fly River turtles on exhibit at JungleWorld, and an individual on exhibit at the World of Reptiles that has been at the zoo since 1958 – longer than any other animal.

WCS works to save turtles and tortoises around the world. In 2012, WCS launched an organization-wide program to revive some of the most endangered turtle and tortoise species. Efforts include breeding programs at WCS’s zoos in New York, head start programs abroad, and working with governments and communities to save species on the brink of extinction.

 

Source: newsroom.wcs.org

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – After twharting a smuggling attempt of 15 tons of fish, the Marine Affairs and Fisheries Ministry (KKP), together with Marine Resources and Fisheries Monitoring Post (PSDKP) of Timika and Timika Resort Police has thwarted another smuggling attempt of pig-nosed turtles (Carettochelys insculpta).

“We have secured 3,230 pig-nosed turtles packed in 190 plastic boxes from smuggling attempt,” said Asep Supriyadi, head of Tual PSDKP Station, in a written statement, Wednesday, February 17, 2016.

Officials of Fish Quarantine, Quality Control and Fisheries Security Center (BKIPM) and security forces of Timika Mosek Kilangin Airport have found evidence of four black luggages used to carry the plastic boxes containing the turtles.

Their modus operandi is by sending the luggages through old airport entrance which has no X-ray devices. The turtles was planned to be sent using Sriwijaya Air to Jayapura before heading to Jakarta.

Currently, the evidence found by officials has been handed over to the Bioderversity and Environmental Dept. of PT Freeport to be taken care of before being released to the wildlife.

Pig-nosed turtule is protected and prohibited from being captured. The turtule is an endemic and endangered species which only live in Papua. The turtle is also listed in Appendix 2 of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES).

 

Source : tempo.co

Police were shell-shocked when they discovered a pair of rare animals during a property raid in Western Australia after a man tried to sell the endangered animals online.

Two pig-nosed turtles were discovered in the Mt Helena property, along with two illegally kept south-west carpet pythons and an oblong turtle.

The man behind the attempted sale was caught after he posted an advertisement on Gumtree.

The turtles can be sold for as much as $2000 as an exotic pet on the black market.

Only one of the pig-nosed turtles was alive when police arrived.

The WA Department of Parks and Wildlife said the turtles, which were close to extinction, were native to New Guinea and the Northern Territory, which was where police believed the seized animals originated.

The man who was allegedly keeping the reptiles illegally was caught while trying to sell the live turtle.

Wildlife officer Cameron Craigie said the seller of the turtle was caught in a sting operation.

‘We arranged a buyer of the turtle and conducted a seizure on Friday,’ Mr Craigie said, according to the ABC.

‘Department of Parks and Wildlife do monitor a number of advertising sites; Gumtree is just one of them.’

Charges are expected to be laid under the Wildlife Conservation Act with the maximum penalty for keeping fauna in captivity without a licence being $4,000.

Mr Craigie said the turtles were the only freshwater species with flippers and were internationally protected.

‘This extremely vulnerable species is being put at further risk by poachers and traffickers, who are driven by the prospect of monetary gain from supplying people wanting to keep them as pets illegally,’ Mr Craigie said.

‘Pig-nosed turtles are very difficult to care for in captivity, as seen by the death of one of the seized animals, which became trapped in an aquarium pipe several years ago.’

 

Source : dailymail.co.uk