Attempt to smuggle 120 tortoises (threatened) foiled in Poland

Source: Southern Ledger

Polish customs at the Ukrainian border Tuesday found 121 Central Asian tortoises, a threatened species, bound so tightly in black tape that their heads could barely squeeze out from their shells.

Customs spokeswoman Malgorzata Eisenberger said officers arrested a 34-year-old Ukrainian man allegedly attempting to cross the border with the animals.

The 121 tortoises were destined for markets in Poland where they sell for 200 Polish zlotys ($62) to people who generally want them as pets _ a much higher price that they would get in impoverished Ukraine, she said.


Polish customs officer provides this photo showing some 120 Central Asian tortoises bound with black tape and stacked in a converted gasoline tank that a Ukrainain man was trying to smuggle into Poland at the crossing of Medyka on Tuesday, June 2, 2009. ( AP Photo/ Customs Office/HO )

Eisenberger said a customs sniffer dog discovered the tortoises bound with black tape and stacked in a converted gasoline tank of the suspect's car.

Read more: http://www.southernledger.com/ap/277628/Attempt_to_smuggle_120_tortoises_foiled_in_Poland

These ignorant parasites cause incredible damage to wildlife.

I am a tortoise/turtle lover!!!! I was able to take my two red earred sliders to a wonderful pond on a friend's ranch and give them a chance to live the restof their lives in a natural setting I had gotten them at a pet store.

Now I know why it takes 9 hours to cross the border in Medyka. If these are Central Asian tortoises, they needed help to get from Kazakhstan or points further east across Russia and into Ukraine.

but its their movement and sale which are contolled and restricted.

Lots of info here for example : http://www.tortoisecentre.co.uk/index.htm

Thanks for posting.:thumbsup: