The Detroit zoological society has stepped up to care for the turtles and tortoises confiscated from a man attempting to smuggle them onto a flight to China. He has been identified as part of a larger ring of smugglers under investigation, including another man found with 50+ tortoises in his pants.
Hopes are high for many of these little shells, though not all will come through unscathed (or at all). Thankfully they are in good hands and will be provided quality care till they are healthy after which they’ll hopefully be sent to some high quality forever homes.
(Source: Detroit Free Press)
The Detroit Zoo is caring for the more than a thousand turtles that were found stuffed in rubber snow boots and cereal boxes last week inside a Canadian man’s luggage at Detroit’s Metro Airport.
The man was arrested by federal agents before he could board a flight to Shanghai, China, with the contraband turtles.
Authorities say the incident is connected to an international smuggling ring led by another Canadian man, KaiXu, who attempted to cross the Detroit-Windsor border in August with 51 turtles concealed in his pants. Xu was charged with federal smuggling crimes for trying to return to Windsor with the live reptiles tucked in baggies around his legs, according to a criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Detroit.
Gavin Shire with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which investigated the case against Xu, said there’s a demand for turtles in Asia, adding that there’s “a lot of both illegal and unregulated turtle consumption.”
The Detroit Zoological Society was contacted by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service agents and asked to assist with the turtles’ care while the investigation is under way, according to a press release from the zoo.
The 1,007 confiscated turtles are mostly juvenile hatchlings that are less than a month old. According to the zoo, more than 750 Diamondback Terrapins, red-necked pond turtles, spotted turtles, wood turtles, Blanding’s turtles, red-eared sliders and African spur-thighed tortoises were among the confiscated reptiles.
“The conditions of the turtles vary. It isn’t surprising that some are not doing well given the way they were being smuggled,” said Scott Carter, DZS chief life sciences officer in a statement. “Most are not of conservation concern, but some are endangered species.”
The turtles are being housed behind the scenes at the zoo as reptile staff work to provide proper care and diets. Once the investigation is complete, the turtles will be transferred back to the USFWS for permanent placement.
The Detroit zoological society has stepped up to care for the turtles and tortoises confiscated from a man attempting to smuggle them onto a flight to China. He has been identified as part of a larger ring of smugglers under investigation, including another man found with 50+ tortoises in his pants.
Hopes are high for many of these little shells, though not all will come through unscathed (or at all). Thankfully they are in good hands and will be provided quality care till they are healthy after which they’ll hopefully be sent to some high quality forever homes.
(Source: Detroit Free Press)
The Detroit Zoo is caring for the more than a thousand turtles that were found stuffed in rubber snow boots and cereal boxes last week inside a Canadian man’s luggage at Detroit’s Metro Airport.
The man was arrested by federal agents before he could board a flight to Shanghai, China, with the contraband turtles.
Authorities say the incident is connected to an international smuggling ring led by another Canadian man, KaiXu, who attempted to cross the Detroit-Windsor border in August with 51 turtles concealed in his pants. Xu was charged with federal smuggling crimes for trying to return to Windsor with the live reptiles tucked in baggies around his legs, according to a criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Detroit.
Gavin Shire with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which investigated the case against Xu, said there’s a demand for turtles in Asia, adding that there’s “a lot of both illegal and unregulated turtle consumption.”
The Detroit Zoological Society was contacted by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service agents and asked to assist with the turtles’ care while the investigation is under way, according to a press release from the zoo.
The 1,007 confiscated turtles are mostly juvenile hatchlings that are less than a month old. According to the zoo, more than 750 Diamondback Terrapins, red-necked pond turtles, spotted turtles, wood turtles, Blanding’s turtles, red-eared sliders and African spur-thighed tortoises were among the confiscated reptiles.
“The conditions of the turtles vary. It isn’t surprising that some are not doing well given the way they were being smuggled,” said Scott Carter, DZS chief life sciences officer in a statement. “Most are not of conservation concern, but some are endangered species.”
The turtles are being housed behind the scenes at the zoo as reptile staff work to provide proper care and diets. Once the investigation is complete, the turtles will be transferred back to the USFWS for permanent placement.
