China News Service, Taizhou, April 27 (Reporter Fan Yubin Correspondent Huang Lili Ke Qianying Zhu Chenzhi) The cute turtle is a common pet in many people's homes, but the pet turtle that some people like is actually a nationally protected animal. On the 27th, the reporter was informed that the police in Wenling, Taizhou City, Zhejiang Province cracked three rare turtle-related cases, arrested 3 criminal suspects suspected of illegally acquiring precious and endangered wildlife, and seized 7 rare turtle species.
The 40-year-old Zhao has loved pets since he was a child, and has raised goldfish, mice, water turtles, hermit crabs, horned frogs, hedgehogs, and chameleons. In 2010, when Zhao was doing business in Xuzhou, Jiangsu, he bought 4 turtles with special patterns on a roadside stall near a local flower and bird market, and the purchase price was about 3,000 yuan.
Photo courtesy of Wenling police
Later, Zhao checked the feeding methods of these turtles on the Internet, and learned that three of them were radial tortoises and one was the Indian star tortoise, both of which belonged to the category of tortoises. They were nationally protected animals, and individuals were not allowed to buy and rear them. But because he really couldn't put it down, Zhao continued to raise and brought the turtle back to Wenling Daxi.
In 2017, Zhao saw some people selling leopard tortoises in the online post bar, and bought a leopard tortoise for 300 yuan and kept them carefully. Knowing that the leopard tortoise is also a nationally protected animal, Zhao still feels guilty that he likes to keep the tortoise. "Anyway, I have already bought four, and this one is not bad."
Recently, the Daxi Police Station of the Public Security Bureau of Wenling City obtained clues that the police arrested a suspect suspected of illegally acquiring precious and endangered wildlife in a residential building in Qiaowai Village, Daxi Town, and detained five precious and endangered tortoises.
Coincidentally, Mao was also a tortoise enthusiast. From November 2015 to the second half of 2018, under the situation that the tortoise was known to be a nationally protected animal, Mao had successively purchased 3 Sukkada tortoises and 1 through the online platform. Only Herman tortoise, the price ranges from 300 yuan to 750 yuan. Due to no breeding experience, 3 Sukarda tortoises have died one after another, leaving only one Herman tortoise. Mao also left a tortoise shell to commemorate a dead Sukkada tortoise.
In order to get more experience and information on turtle breeding, Mao joined several WeChat groups for turtle breeding exchange. The members of the group come from all over the country. They gather together spontaneously because they like to breed endangered wild animals. They usually exchange breeding experience and buy and sell animal feed.
Photo courtesy of Wenling police
"In the exchange group, when I saw someone in Guangdong over being caught for raising turtles, I retired the group, thinking that I should be able to escape by leaving the group." Mao did not expect that through the investigation, the Wenling police quickly Locked him.
Li Mou, who is obsessed with raising turtles, was also deeply involved. After adding the seller's WeChat through the forum in June 2018, a tortoise purchased for 780 yuan was delivered to the house and died within a day. Li immediately made up the difference of 1200 yuan, and purchased another Sukarda tortoise.
In May 2019, although he knew that it was illegal to buy tortoises, he was worried that a Sukarda tortoise was too lonely, and once again purchased a small Sukarda tortoise as a companion through the post bar for 700 yuan.
Li took care of the two turtles in every possible way, feeding them with feed, vegetables or fruits on weekdays. Putting the turtles in the incubator in winter and illuminating them with lamps to maintain a stable temperature. Most of the summer is free-range on the balcony, and it is also specially decorated with green plants.
In August 2019, Li Mou was seized by the forest police in Wenling City. However, because he was really reluctant to tortoise and feared heavy punishment, Li lied that the Sukarda tortoise he had bought had already died, and only turned in another small Sukarda tortoise.
After identification, the Sukkada tortoise is a terrestrial wildlife protected by Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) (that is, equivalent to national level 2). Its benchmark value is 2,500 yuan. A fine of 5 times the value of the Qatar tortoise, an administrative penalty of 12,500 yuan.
After being punished, Li secretly kept the Sukkada tortoise left behind. He said, "I thought that if I didn't buy a turtle in the future, I wouldn't be investigated again." Recently, the police in the west police station of Wenling City Public Security Bureau knocked on Li's house and seized a Sukkada tortoise on the balcony.
Currently, Zhao Mou, Mao Mou, and Li Mou have been taken criminally by the Wenling Police in connection with the crime of illegally acquiring precious and endangered wildlife. The endangered wild animals such as Sukkada tortoise, Hermann tortoise and radiation tortoise reared by the three people have been detained according to law after being identified and sent to the zoo for foster care.
Wenling Police reminded pet owners and exotic pet lovers to do their homework before buying or purchasing alternative pets, to identify whether the purchased "pet" is a prohibited species, and once a seller selling rare animals is found, it should be Call the police in time. (Finish)