(AFP) Google News 1 Apr 13;
TANGERANG, Indonesia — Indonesian authorities have seized nearly 700 endangered pig-nosed turtles at the main airport serving the capital Jakarta, an official said Monday.
The turtles, which were less than a month old, had been transported from the easternmost province of Papua to Soekarno-Hatta airport on a local carrier but their final destination was unknown, said quarantine official Teguh Samudro.
"We don't know where they were being sent as the address on the package does not exist," the official said. The turtles would be released back into their native habitat in Papua soon, he added.
The 687 pig-nosed turtles, a species distinguishable by its fleshy snout-like nose, arrived at the airport on March 15 but officials did not know who had sent them.
Under Indonesian law, the offence carries a maximum three-year jail term and a fine of 150 million rupiah ($15,406).
Pig-nosed turtles are listed under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, which imposes international trade restrictions to protect species from over-exploitation.
Quarantine officials foil attempt to smuggle 687 pig-nosed turtles
Antara 1 Apr 13;
Tangerang, Banten (ANTARA News) - Quarantine officials at Seokarno-Hatta Airport have foiled an attempt to smuggle 687 pitted-shelled turtles, chief of the airport`s quarantine office Teguh Samudro said.
"We discovered the smuggling attempt after their container got leaked," Teguh, the head of Soekarno-Airport`s Quarantine Office of Fisheries Quality and Security Control Agency (BBKIPM), said here on Monday.
He said that one-month old pig-snout turtles were dispatched from Papua on March 15 aboard of a Sriwijaya plane and had a transit at Makassar airport before arriving at Soekarno-Hatta airport.
But the officials could not disclose the passenger who brought the endangered species. They were suspicious to have fled when the turtles were confiscated by the officials.
Regional Conservation Director of the Ministry of Maritime and Fishery Affairs, Tonny Ruchimat said pig-nosed turtle was a protected species based on the CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora), Law N0 5 /1990, article 21, and article 40 point 2 and 4 of Government Regulation No. 7/ 1999 on plants and animals conservation.
"We are still investigating the sender of the young fly-river turtles. We are also examining why the animals could escape examinations at Makassar airport without the knowledge of officials," Teguh said.
The pig-nosed turtles have been handed over to the Directorate General of Forest and Nature Conservation (PHKA) for release to their habitat.
Last month, the Bengkulu Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) also released around 200 turtle hatchlings in Pasir Putih beach, Bengkulu province.
Turtles have been protected by the Indonesian government, but turtles poaching and illegal trading are still rampant in the country, Bengkulu BKSDA Chief Anggoro Dwi Sujianto said.
The turtles were hatched in Alam Air Hitam sanctuary, Mukomuko District, Bengkulu Province, and therefore some of the hatchlings were released in Mukomuko and the rest in Bengkulu city`s beach.
Turtles that hatch in Bengkulu beaches do not only come from the province but also from Thailand. Thai turtles come to Bengkulu waters only to lay their eggs, and they then disappear in Indian oceans.
(Uu.A014/O001)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
