Global News - June 2008

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Thai authorities seize over 1,000 smuggled snakes and turtles

Tue 24 June 2008 14:00 UK — Asia,Reptiles

Police in Thailand have arrested two men who were caught trying to smuggle rare snakes and turtles out of the country.

The local Bangkok Post reported that the two men were apprehended at Suvarnabhumi airport after the authorities were tipped off that the pair would be attempting to send rare animals through the hub's cargo section.

On investigation, it was found that the two smugglers had 180 foam boxes which contained more than 1,000 snakes and turtles.

Subsak Chavalviwat, a senior liaison officer with the Asean Wildlife Enforcement Network (Asean-Wen), explained to the paper: "They told us that the boxes contained fish and mantis shrimps, but fish and shrimps were found in only 62 of them. The rest of the boxes were full of turtles and snakes.

"There were 379 turtles and 660 snakes, altogether weighing 555 kilograms."

Among the recovered animals were rare species, such as rat snakes, Malayan box turtles, yellow-headed temple turtles and snail-eating turtles.

A source at the department of national parks, wildlife and plant conservation told the paper that the shipment was bound for China.

"Turtles are resilient and they had a higher chance of survival, but snakes are highly vulnerable and too many had been crammed together with little oxygen. Many were found dead," he pointed out.

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