Post by Soutpeel on Jun 9, 2016 15:53:04 GMT 7
Stealing Madagascar tortoises is the work of professionals
A wildlife expert says the stealing of the rare Madagascar tortoises from Bang Phra Waterfowls breeding centre in Chonburi province two months ago was not the work of ordinary thieves but professionals who knows how to keep them alive and where to sell them.
Somkiat Suntornphitak-kun, the director-general of Division of Wild Fauna and Flora Protection of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, said whoever removed the animals would definitely have known the exact location where they were kept.
They would also have extensive knowledge of the market for these animals as any normal person would not know what they were worth and would certainly not know how to go about selling them, he said.
He explained that these tortoises require specialized care and would not survive being kept in unsupportive conditions.
They are also very selective of what they eat and require food exclusive to their needs.
Besides, he said one of the most important prerequisites is the maintenance of their body’s temperature to facilitate healthy digestion which means the water in which they are kept must be kept warm.
With this criteria, the number of suspects was narrowed down significantly as only collectors who have direct experience rearing these animals would have the resources and knowledge to be able to keep them, he said.
He said these stolen rare tortoises are those that were seized by Immigration Department officials at Suvarnbhumi Airport in 2013.
He then recalled that the animals were wrapped in thick clear film before putting them in luggage bags.
In all 72 Radiated and 54 Unifora or Angonoka tortoises were seized and were brought to the Bang Phra Waterfowl breeding centre to be cared for.
But he said unfortunately, 48 Unifora or Angonoka tortoises did not survive the ordeal leaving only 6 survivors.
He said CITES’s records identify Thailand as one of the major transit routes with one of the highest seizure and arrest rates – particularly at Suvarnabhumi Airport, for these rare tortoises.
He went on saying that normally, smugglers attempted to conceal the animals by putting them in travel bags which they personally carry.
The majority that Thai authorities have been able to detain are of Indian or Pakistani nationality.
When questioned, most reveal that they were hired to transport the animals to Thailand and had no other knowledge in the matter.
An investigation is underway to locate local dealers as well as links to third-party countries where these animals are finally destined, he said.
According to him, when smugglers are able to elude immigration checks, the animal are then handed over to local pet-stores such as those located in Chatuchak market. Some are even sold via online apps with extremely high asking prices.
A recent search of such black-market websites have revealed that the going price for Angonoka or indeed any tortoises from Madagascar regularly go for several hundred thousand baht.
These animals are prized by collectors and traditional medicine practitioners alike.
Angonoka tortoises are one of the animals listed in CITES’s most endangered species and it is believed that there remain only around 100 of these animals left in the wild.
Physically they have beautiful elaborate shells which are why they are highly prized by collectors.
As for Radiated tortoises, they are classified as close to extinction from being over-hunted.
People who collected these tortoise animals are usually the wealthy and well off who can afford to pay the high asking price as well as the high cost of their upkeep.
The six extremely rare Unifora or Angonoka, Madagascar tortoises and 72 Radiata or Radiated tortoises went missing in April from the Bang Phra Waterfowl Breeding Station in Chonburi.
But the disappearance was just disclosed.
englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/stealing-madagascar-tortoises-work-professionals/
A wildlife expert says the stealing of the rare Madagascar tortoises from Bang Phra Waterfowls breeding centre in Chonburi province two months ago was not the work of ordinary thieves but professionals who knows how to keep them alive and where to sell them.
Somkiat Suntornphitak-kun, the director-general of Division of Wild Fauna and Flora Protection of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, said whoever removed the animals would definitely have known the exact location where they were kept.
They would also have extensive knowledge of the market for these animals as any normal person would not know what they were worth and would certainly not know how to go about selling them, he said.
He explained that these tortoises require specialized care and would not survive being kept in unsupportive conditions.
They are also very selective of what they eat and require food exclusive to their needs.
Besides, he said one of the most important prerequisites is the maintenance of their body’s temperature to facilitate healthy digestion which means the water in which they are kept must be kept warm.
With this criteria, the number of suspects was narrowed down significantly as only collectors who have direct experience rearing these animals would have the resources and knowledge to be able to keep them, he said.
He said these stolen rare tortoises are those that were seized by Immigration Department officials at Suvarnbhumi Airport in 2013.
He then recalled that the animals were wrapped in thick clear film before putting them in luggage bags.
In all 72 Radiated and 54 Unifora or Angonoka tortoises were seized and were brought to the Bang Phra Waterfowl breeding centre to be cared for.
But he said unfortunately, 48 Unifora or Angonoka tortoises did not survive the ordeal leaving only 6 survivors.
He said CITES’s records identify Thailand as one of the major transit routes with one of the highest seizure and arrest rates – particularly at Suvarnabhumi Airport, for these rare tortoises.
He went on saying that normally, smugglers attempted to conceal the animals by putting them in travel bags which they personally carry.
The majority that Thai authorities have been able to detain are of Indian or Pakistani nationality.
When questioned, most reveal that they were hired to transport the animals to Thailand and had no other knowledge in the matter.
An investigation is underway to locate local dealers as well as links to third-party countries where these animals are finally destined, he said.
According to him, when smugglers are able to elude immigration checks, the animal are then handed over to local pet-stores such as those located in Chatuchak market. Some are even sold via online apps with extremely high asking prices.
A recent search of such black-market websites have revealed that the going price for Angonoka or indeed any tortoises from Madagascar regularly go for several hundred thousand baht.
These animals are prized by collectors and traditional medicine practitioners alike.
Angonoka tortoises are one of the animals listed in CITES’s most endangered species and it is believed that there remain only around 100 of these animals left in the wild.
Physically they have beautiful elaborate shells which are why they are highly prized by collectors.
As for Radiated tortoises, they are classified as close to extinction from being over-hunted.
People who collected these tortoise animals are usually the wealthy and well off who can afford to pay the high asking price as well as the high cost of their upkeep.
The six extremely rare Unifora or Angonoka, Madagascar tortoises and 72 Radiata or Radiated tortoises went missing in April from the Bang Phra Waterfowl Breeding Station in Chonburi.
But the disappearance was just disclosed.
englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/stealing-madagascar-tortoises-work-professionals/
