Man caught smuggling 10% of entire species

[ExpandMyMind]

A day after a wildlife trade conference in Bangkok, Thailand, authorities caught a man attempting to smuggle a bag full of tortoises shipped from Madagascar. Aside from that being pretty terrible to begin with, it turns out that among the stock of tortoises were 54 ploughshare tortoises, which may not seem like a lot considering their small size. However, it is estimated that the worldwide population of ploughshare tortoises is only around 400, meaning that the man was attempting to smuggle over 10% of the entire species through an airport in a suitcase.

http://www.geek.com/articles/geek-cetera/man-caught-smuggling-over-10-of-an-entire-species-20130330/

Shocking.

[Queen in the North]

Scumbags!

Makes me so mad. The article says the bright side is that they were likely intended for the pet trade, but still, how many are likely to die through being smuggled on flights in poor conditions. Then how many are likely to die through poor care when they are pets. As they are illegal to keep as pets as they're so endangered there's probably very little information available about their captive care.

[Ashotep]

Anyone caught smuggling an endangered species should spend several years in prison. I don't care if they were meant as a pet. Look how some people treat their pets when they grow tired of them.

[Coffey]

That's disgusting, definitely should be sent to prison.

[xYlvax]

Greedy foolish man.

[Lava_Lady]

What a Jack ass... people like this guy and his accomplice don't think about anything but money.

[Sundew]

Since the condition of the tortoises may have deteriorated since they were collected, the best thing that could happen to them and for the species is that they be given to a reputable breeder who has had experience with these or similar species. They could be treated for disease caused by mishandling, crowding and neglect and brought back to a state of health, then used as the nexus for a breeding colony. The offspring could be raised to a size where survival in the wild is likely (young turtles and tortoises are easy prey) and used to repopulate the original habitat, or perhaps national parks within the natural range of the animal. There are many reptile breeders familiar with tortoises, (many juvenile species are readily available in the pet trade) so the success rate for captive breeding should be pretty high. Just taking them back to the wild in a poor state of health is not a good idea for them or the other wild tortoises they might encounter.

And severe fines and or jail time is in order for the poacher.

[ShadowBoy86x]

this makes me sick! Wait till TMNT hears about this!

[ShadowBoy86x]

all jokes aside, it is really sad ( tried to add this to last message and it reposted it, i should wait till im fully awake before i come on here *embarassed*

Edited March 31, 2013 by ShadowBoy86x

[Chooky88]

Much worse than drug smugglers. Lock him up for life and send a clear message.

[Starseed hybrid 1111]

he should punish where he learns his lesson and won't do it ever again!!!but let it obviously humane and fair too.one should never take a wild animal and especially one that is almost endangered from extinction.just so you could make money.my question is how would humanity or That person that stole the animals feel if they abducted him and sold him on the black market?