Peruvian authorities have successfully intercepted a shipment of approximately 4,000 turtles at the Jorge Chavez international airport in Lima, preventing their illegal export to Indonesia, as announced by the National Forestry and Wildlife Service on Thursday.
The thwarted shipment included baby Arrau turtles, considered the largest river turtle in South America, and yellow-spotted river turtles. Both species are listed under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) of Wild Fauna and Flora Appendix II, which necessitates the regulation and monitoring of their trade.
The Peruvian National Forestry and Wildlife Service highlighted the lack of permission to export the Charapa turtles, known as Podocnemis unifilis or Taricaya, the latter being a distinct species with specific characteristics. The seized turtles were found in small transparent plastic containers within cardboard boxes.
The yellow-spotted river turtle, recognized as the second-largest freshwater turtle in the Amazon, is classified by the International Union for Conservation of Nature as vulnerable to extinction. The interception of this shipment aligns with global efforts to combat illegal wildlife trafficking, a black market estimated to be worth up to $20 billion annually, according to Interpol. This illegal trade poses a severe threat to various species, pushing them toward the brink of extinction.
Tortoises and turtles, as noted by CITES, are among the most endangered groups of animals globally, emphasizing the critical need for measures to curb illegal trade and protect these vulnerable species. The Peruvian authorities’ action not only safeguards the local turtle populations but also contributes to international conservation efforts by preventing the exploitation of these creatures for illicit trade.
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