Gender preserves shock because of smuggling Thai rare turtles

Thai authorities have discovered the smuggling of 54 ploughshare tortoises, one of the planet's rarest tortoises, in Bangkok.

The arrest of a man who smuggled turtles took place at an airport in Bangkok on March 30, Geek reported. When ransacking the bag that the man carried, the police discovered 54 ploughshare tortoises small. This is a shocking figure for conservationists, because they know that the number of ploughshare turtles, the endemic animal of the island nation of Madagascar, is alive only about 400. Thus, the number of ploughshare tortoises that man carrying over 10% of the total species on the planet.

Ploughshare tortoises that the Thai police seized in Bangkok. (Photo: Geek)

In addition, the bag contains 21 Radiated turtles. It is also a rare and precious tortoise that is facing extinction.

Officials identified a 25-year-old woman in the bag's name. This woman flew from Madagascar to Bangkok. But what surprised the police was that the man could take the bag even though he was not a passenger in the flight. That fact shows two possibilities: loose airport security or someone helped smugglers get their bags.

Ploughshare turtles, or Madagascar turtles, are turtles that live in dry forests on the island of Madagascar. Their bibs curved towards the throat so it was shaped like a plow. Their shell is quite high, light brown. The average body length of males is about 43-48cm, and the average weight is about 10.3kg. The female is smaller, with an average body length of about 37cm and an average weight of 8.8kg. Their food is plants (roots, tubers, leaves, stems) and animal manure. Scientists fear plow turtles will become extinct after 10 to 15 years.

TRAFFIC network believes that most people buy ploughshare turtles to raise. This is the only bright spot in their gloomy future, because if they are ornamental animals, they will not die as quickly and easily as the animals sold to traditional restaurants or pharmacies. In just three years, Thai authorities have discovered more than 4,300 water turtles and tortoises when smugglers transport them through airports.