XN000022-1982-12-20 — Page 7

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MONDAY, DECEMBER 20, 1982

CONFISCATED TORTOISES LEFT FOR NEW HOME

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A CONSIGNMENT OF 57 TORTOISES HAVE LEFT FOR A NEW HOME IN THE UNITED KINGDOM AFTER SPENDING ABOUT TWO MONTHS IN HONG KONG.

THE REPTILES, KNOWN AS RADIATED TORTOISES BECAUSE OF THE IR COLOURFUL SHELLS, WERE ILLEGALLY IMPORTED INTO HONG KONG BY A SEAMAN IN OCTOBER.

THE

AS RADIATED TORTOISES ARE A HIGHLY ENDANGERED SPECIES, SEAMAN WAS CHARGED UNDER THE ANIMALS AND PLANTS (PROTECTION OF ENDANGERED SPECIES) ORDINANCE. RADIATED TORTOISES ARE VEGETARIANS AND ARE AMONG THE MOST BEAUTIFUL AND VALUABLE OF TURTLES.

A COURT LATER IMPOSED A FINE OF $2 000 ON THE SEAMAN WHO PLEADED GUILTY TO THE CHARGE.

THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT SOON BEGAN LOOKING FOR A PERMANENT HOME FOR THE TORTOISES.

IT HAS SINCE BEEN DECIDED THAT THE JERSEY ZOOLOGICAL PARK OF THE CHANNEL ISLANDS GROUP IN THE UNITED KINGDOM BE GIVEN THE TORTOISES. THE PARK IS WELL KNOWN FOR BREEDING ENDANGERED SPECIES.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT REMINDED THE PUBLIC THAT IT IS AN OFFENCE TO IMPORT OR POSSESS ENDANGERED SPECIES OF ANIMALS AND PLANTS WITHOUT AUTHORISATION.

POSSESSION AND IMPORTATION OF ENDANGERED SPECIES OF ANIMALS AND PLANTS, INCLUDING PARTS, IS REGULATED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ANIMALS AND PLANTS (PROTECTION OF ENDANGERED SPECIES) ORDINANCE WHICH GIVES EFFECT TO THE CONVENTION ON INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN ENDANGERED SPECIES OF WILD FAUNA AND FLORA (CITES). THE CONVENTION IS A TRADE AGREEMENT AND IS ENFORCED AT INTERNATIONAL BORDER CROSSINGS.

SOME LOCAL RESIDENTS HAVE BEEN KNOWN TO BRING ENDANGERED SPECIES OF ANIMALS INTO HONG KONG AFTER VISITS TO NEIGHBOURING COUNTRIES.

THESE ARE CONFISCATED WHENEVER FOUND AND THE IMPORTERS BROUGHT BEFORE COURTS UNDER RELEVANT CHARGES.

SINCE APRIL THIS YEAR, THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT HAS SUCCESSFULLY PROSECUTED 200 CASES UNDER THE LEGISLATION.

FINES TOTALLING $93 000 WERE IMPOSED BY THE COURTS WITH GOODS VALUED AT $170 000 HAVING BEEN CONFISCATED.

THE CONFISCATED GOODS INCLUDE 391 SEA TURTLE EGGS, 21 SEA TURTLE SPECIMENS, 14 LIVE PANGOLINS, 25 DEAD PANGOLINS AND 165 PIECES OF PYTHON SKIN.

ABOUT 80 OTHER CASES WERE AWAITING COURT HEARINGS.

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