"This is the second major star tortoise seizure at Suvarnabhumi Airport this month. These consecutive seizures highlight the continuing high volume illicit wildlife trade link between South and Southeast Asia. Countries in both regions need to collaborate and make every effort to bring the perpetrators to justice. If we can't stop them, we'll lose these species forever," said Onkuri Majumdar, Senior Program Officer for counter-trafficking group FREELAND Foundation.
Rare tortoises are smuggled thousands of kilometers around the world due to strong demand and high prices paid by collectors and illicit pet traders. In September last year, a Pakistani citizen was arrested at Suvarnabhumi Airport with 1,140 Star Tortoises after arriving from South Asia.
For more information, contact FREELAND Regional Communications Officer Siwaporn via +66 8 1990 8552, +66 2 204 2719 or [email protected]