79 Turtles Seized at Shanghai Airport

A total of 79 illegal alien live turtles were intercepted by inspection and quarantine authorities Saturday at an airport in Shanghai, east China.

Published

over 1 year ago

Categories

Seriously?

Topics

Seriously?

Places

China, Shanghai

Tags

airport, airport security, turtle

Transcript

Script[Notes:Shanghai, China - Feb 11th, 2012]SECURITY OFFICIALS AT SHANGHAI'S AIRPORT GOT A BIT OF A SURPRISE WHEN THEY SCANNED A PACKAGE SATURDAY. INSIDE THEY FOUND 79 LIVE TURTLES.THIS AIRPORT OFFICIAL SAY THE TURTLES WERE WRAPPED IN STOCKINGS--WHICH PROVIDED VENTILATION AND WARMTH. HE SAYS WHOEVER SENT THEM MUST HAVE BEEN WELL ORGANIZED.THE TURTLES HAD A RETURN MAILING ADDRESS OF JAPAN. INVESTIGATORS IDENTIFIED THEM AS JAPANESE POND TURTLES--OFTEN RAISED AS PETS IN JAPAN.RARE SPECIES LIKE TURTLE, SPIDER AND SCORPION HAVE BECOME MORE POPULAR IN CHINA IN RECENT YEARS. THAT HAS LED TO THE INCREASING IMPORT OF EXOTIC SPECIES. THESE TURTLES WILL BE RETURNED OR DESTROYED--ACCORDING TO CHINESE ANIMAL AND PLANT QUARANTINE RULES.MATT FRIEDMAN. ASSOCIATED PRESS. (****END****) ANCHOR VOICE: -------------------------VIDEO PRODUCER: matt friedman---------------------------VIDEO SOURCE: aptn/cctv-----------------------VIDEO APPROVAL: ----------------------------VIDEO RESTRICTIONS: no access china