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A pig-nosed turtle.
Arrests of would-be smugglers packing suitcases with wildlife are hardly uncommon, but what happened Wednesday in Indonesia set a new bar: 1,495 live pig-nosed turtles were seized at an airport - crammed into two suitcases.
"The authorities involved in intercepting this shipment are to be congratulated,” Chris Shepherd, who works for the wildlife monitoring agency TRAFFIC, said in a statement. "However, the fact that dealers continue to smuggle shipments of this size indicates a serious problem in Indonesia, where illegal reptile trade is rife."
No arrests were reported when officials seized the suitcases that were about to be flown from a regional airport to the capital Jakarta.
TRAFFIC estimates that thousands of pig-nosed turtles, "valued as pets, and possibly consumed as meat in some countries," are smuggled out of Indonesia each year.
The species , threatened by smugglers and loss of habitat, is native to Indonesia's Papua region and is protected under Indonesian law.
"Many are destined for the pet markets of East Asia, to places such as Hong Kong, where demand for this species is rising," TRAFFIC added. "The turtles are often concealed in shipments of tropical aquarium fish."
In 2010, Indonesian officials found nearly 3,500 pig-nosed turtles in six containers bound for Hong Kong.
It's not just pig-nosed turtles, either, that are sought by smugglers feeding a demand for exotic pets or food. TRAFFIC regularly reports seizures of wildlife in Indonesia and other parts of Asia as well as Africa, where elephant tusks and rhino horns are valuable commodities.
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Hollywood's next blockbuster film "Turtles on a Plane"!
But this time Samuel Jackson a cracked out smuggler.
"I've had it with these muthaf***** turtles on this muthaf***** plane!"
"Cowabunga dude!"= Raphael
Elaine= "You mean it shrinks"
Jerry= "Like a frightened turtle"
SLJ- "Go the FOK to sleep!"
If they really wanted to help stop this, they would have taken the turtles out, but put the empty bags on the plane. Then arrested whoever picked up the bags at the other end.
I had a hard time believing that nobody was arrested also! Do they think that many turtles is not enough to set up some sort of sting operation and catch those doing this?? How about those buying them?? Are they not just as guilty as those catching them?? Un-freaking beleivable to not have ONE arrest be made!!
I think what actually happened is just mother natures modern way adaptation to changing times on this planet. The turtles were fully responsible for what they were doing. They just should have bought tickets. They were simply migrating to a new and better location. "Life will find a way"
they are so cute, thank goodness they were rescued!!
Unfortunately, many smuggled creatures are euthanized. Hope that wasn't the case here.
They are definitely cute!
Can you imagine what must happen during the Chinese Year of the Pig!
Why doesnt anyone smuggle live crocodiles?
Because their claws are WAY too sharp to put them up in there! Additionally, I imagine one could destroy your taint if he were to escape.
'Cause the crocs insist on "snacks" during the flight.
Now you are just being ridiculous.
Everyone knows that Crocs don't care for those little packages of lightly sweetened peanuts.
.... because the smugglers tend to disappeared during the process.
You are misinformed. They do smuggle crocodiles. Crocodile meat is one of the Chinese cures for pulmonary problems.
Yeldarb, that may be true but they love those little bottles of liquor.
Oh no! Turtles are cute!
IF there was not such a demand for these poor creatures, they would not be smuggled.
Turtle soup rocks.
GRROOOWWWWLLL: Leave my animal buddies where they belong.... knuckleheads! Why can't the punishment for the crime of smuggling animals involve walking the plank in shark infested waters?
You want to give sharks indigestion?
Wonder if they had to pay those pesky baggage fees?
Airline hidden fees are already a "shell game".
Our wildlife has to be saved,
SHOOT ALL SMUGGLERS ON SITE !
Although I oppose smuggling and poaching, I find the attitude that such crimes should be punished with death or life sentences abhorrent.
No human life should ever be destroyed for the sake of an animal. Killing animals may be wrong according to the circumstances and the animal, but it should never be equated with murder.
I disagree. Many animals are more important than humans!
Otherwise we could actually have a sane planet with beautiful wildlife abundant.
Humans are the main problem.
For example the killing of a whale should be the same as the killing of a person, (minus the native Americans in Alaska because they actually live in harmony with their surroundings and I could not see that. Maybe a better way to provide food for them though so whales can live).
Yeah, no. Your definition of "important" doesn't mesh with mine.
No animal's life is as important as a human life. I don't care if the animal is the last of its species, lays golden eggs, and single-handedly keeps the hole in the ozone layer closed. My species is human. My countrymen are human. My family is human. I live in a human country founded by humans, for humans, with a legal system whose sole duty is to protect humanity and allow humans to prosper. Humans come first. Always.
That said, animal poaching and smuggling is a terrible crime, and I'm glad they caught this schmuck. I hope those poor turtles are okay and get returned to their original habitat or at least a nice zoo.
SF, the first part of your last post is one of THE reasons why our world is in the shape it is and why MANY creatures of this planet are going extinct! If it wasn't for MANY of those animal species our species more than likely wouldn't even be here!
There are a good number of countries that if you're caught stealing they cut off a finger. If you're caught again they cut off your hand. I can't remember which Asian country, but if someone dies from the drugs you've dealt they parade you through town then put a bullet in your head. After that, the family is forced to show a 'shrine' of the dealer in their house as a reminder to the family as well as to others of the consequences. With that being said, if laws and punishment were stricter then maybe a good number of these animal smugglers/poachers would think twice and/or think of a different way to make money to support themselves or their families without blatantly destroying nature.
Smuggling has many categories. While most are bad; but sometime it is ok. In this case, the Indonesia Gov wanted to keep the pig-nose turtle native (which is greedy), so if people smuggle them out as pets, then it is ok. So they need to go after the consumers (who eat them). Another example, the Chineses wanted to keep the pandas native (greedy, no sharing with the rest of the world). So if you have the intention to raise the panda properly in the US, UK, etc... I say go for it... smuggle all you like.
These people will eat anything !!
Maybe you should just google "turtle soup" and you'll find it's not just "these people". Fairly common down here. BTW there's quite the industry exporting turtles from here to Japan.
1,494 turtles headed home to the same lecture; "Just because everyone else is running away, does that mean you have to do it also?" "If everyone just darted off toward the ocean, would you do that too?" "You are grounded to your shell for two weeks mister!"
I want one! Is there a legal way to get one?
People suck
I'm just happy those things didn't mutate and become ninjas.
So what is it???? Tuttle Soup or Pig Soup/How can you know a tuttle with pig nose??? (It goes OINK-OINK)
All the worldwide exotic animals are heading to China via Hong Kong Gateway to serve the Riches and Elite.
SF accountant you state "No human life should ever be destroyed for the sake of an animal."
I call absolute BS on that. If more people were put to death for their abuse of animals then we would not have such a problem. The abusers are lucky I am not in charge of their cases....you couldn't dig graves fast enough.