YALA, April 4 (TNA) – Thai authorities have seized 21
star tortoises worth around 630,000 baht while being smuggled from Malaysia.
Wildlife protection officials, police and paramilitary
personnel intercepted the smuggling attempt at a checkpoint in Betong district,
Yala, bordering Malaysia on Wednesday.
They discovered the star tortoise inside four boxes on a
taxi. The 61-year-old passenger who had
the protected species in his possession said he was hired to take the boxes
from a gas station located two kilometers away from Thai border without knowing
their contents.
The tortoises would be transferred to a wildlife nursery
center in Narathiwat, officials said.
Star tortoise is under grave threat of extinction due to
illegal trade. The species, native of Madagascar, has been listed on CITES
Appendix I. (TNA)
