Fw: [AR-News] (UK) Haven for suitcase tortoises

July 26, 2004

- Animalara2003

AR-News (AT) GoogleGroups (DOT) com

Monday, July 26, 2004 10:18 AM

[AR-News] (UK) Haven for suitcase tortoises

Monday, 26th July 2004

Carl Palmer

SAFE: Indian Star tortoises

EIGHT rare tortoises rescued from Far East smugglers have been found a new home in Cheshire.About 350 young Indian Star tortoises were found in a suitcase by Hong Kong customs when a Malaysian courier tried to smuggle them into the country.They have all now been found new homes after recovering in a Hong Kong rescue centre.Eight have come to Chester Zoo, where they will help to ensure the species' survival through a managed breeding programme with other zoos round Europe.They were collected in Rotterdam by Kevin Buley, the zoo's curator of lower vertebrates and invertebrates and co-chairman a leading European amphibian and reptile group.He said: "The continued and organised smuggling of protected tortoises- such as the Indian Star - has driven many species to the point of extinction.Quarantine

full story:http://www.manchesteronline.co.uk/news/s/124/124944_haven_for_suitcase_tortoises.html

~~~*+*~~~*+*~~~*+*~~~*+*~~~*+*~~~*+*~~~*+*~~~*+*~~~~*+*~~~There is a line drawn in the sand between humans and the wild. Upon this line, we can stand on tiptoes and marvel at what we see - but that line should never be crossed, for their sakes and ultimately, for ours./\ /\>' .' <