Global News - August 2007

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Chinese police rescue 70 crocs

Tue 21 August 2007 12:30 UK — Asia

A smuggler who was attempting to bring 70 crocodiles into China has been caught by local police officers, state media has reported.

According to Reuters, the Xinhua news agency said that the smuggler was caught in the southern Guangdong province.

Each of the crocodiles is said to be 70cm long and weighs around 1.5kg. It was also reported that police recovered a number of baby turtles in the haul.

While the report did not say where the animals had come from or what happened to the man, it claimed that the crocodiles were "ornamental".

In July, the Xinhua news agency reported that state police had stopped a boat which was illegally carrying 270 crocodiles.

At the time, officials said that the reptiles were destined for underground factories, where they would be made into handbags and other fashion items.

Recently, a noted wildlife writer, Graeme Gibson, said that people who harm or traffic endangered animals should be treated like war criminals.

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