Global News - August 2007

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Police save 7,000 turtles in Hong Kong

Fri 31 August 2007 16:45 UK — Asia

Police in Hong Kong have arrested two men who were trying to smuggle more than 7,000 live turtles to mainland China.

According to the Associated Press (AP), reports in the local Ming Pao Daily News said that the men were apprehended on Wednesday (August 29th) as they tried to load 300 cartons of the creatures onto a speedboat.

Most of the animals were snapping turtles - a species found in Canada and South America - but the haul also included razorback musk turtles.

While none of the recovered turtles were endangered, the police said that the arrest would send a message to others who might plan to try and smuggle animals into China.

The Ming Pao paper is reported to have quoted marine police inspector Lai Chi-hung as saying that authorities believe that the animals would have been sold in mainland China as pets.

According to the report, another smuggler managed to evade capture and escaped in the speedboat.

Recently, smugglers in Mexico were caught with 57,000 rare turtle eggs. Local officials said that the men were trying to sell the eggs as they are considered a delicacy in the region.

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