185 Baby Turtles Wrapped Tightly in Plastic Seized at Galapagos Airport

Ecuador Police Investigation... 1 to 3 Years Imprisonment for Illegal Wildlife Trade

Galapagos tortoise caught at the airport. Photo by Galapagos Airport Facebook capture

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-ju] A total of 185 endangered Galapagos tortoises were caught being smuggled at the airport, prompting the police to launch an investigation.

On the 28th (local time), The New York Times reported that the Ecuadorian Ministry of Environment seized 185 baby tortoises packed in travel bags at Galapagos Airport.

Most of the tortoises were about three months old and were tightly wrapped in plastic wrap.

A customs official stated that 10 tortoises had already died at the time of discovery, and an additional 5 died afterward.

The Ministry of Environment said the tortoises were found during a routine inspection, and the police are investigating the circumstances.

The Galapagos Islands in the South Pacific are located about 1,000 km west of mainland Ecuador and are a treasure trove of rare species due to their isolation.

British biologist Charles Darwin observed the Galapagos wildlife and wrote the book on evolution, "On the Origin of Species." Trading Galapagos flora and fauna can result in imprisonment for 1 to 3 years if caught.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.