Indonesia rescues more than 8,000 pig-nosed turtles

Indonesian officials said on January 10 that they had rescued more than 8,000 baby pig-nosed turtles hidden in suitcases that were being smuggled to China and Singapore.

Indonesia rescues more than 8,000 pig-nosed turtles

A total of 2,968 baby turtles were discovered in four suitcases at Jakarta's airport after they were transported from a remote area in eastern Papua, according to Zaenal Abidi, an Indonesian quarantine official.

“These suitcases were filled with plastic boxes, each containing 15 to 20 baby turtles. Unfortunately, 14 of them died during transportation,” he said.

Officials at Jakarta airport have been asked to look out for endangered pig-nosed turtles after another 5,400 were found in seven suitcases in Papua. The rescued baby turtles have been returned to their natural habitat in Papua, Mr Abidi said.

The pig-nosed turtle is found only in Australia and New Guinea, an island jointly controlled by Papua New Guinea and Indonesia. It is protected under Indonesian conservation law. It has a very distinctive nose and is located between its toes.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature has classified the pig-nosed turtle as endangered and banned commercial trade in the species. Pig-nosed turtles are often smuggled to Singapore and China to be sold as pets or even in specialty restaurants.

According to NDĐT