General
Ecuador policeman held in Galapágos Islands over 185 baby giant tortoises in suitcase
An Ecuadorian policeman has been arrested after airport officials in the Galápagos Islands discovered 185 baby giant tortoises stuffed in a suitcase to be trafficked.
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Ten of them had died by the time the suitcase was opened and another five have died since
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The policeman will be charged with crimes against wildlife and risks a three-year prison sentence
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The environment ministry said the surviving tortoises were taken to a breeding centre on the neighbouring Santa Cruz island
The reptiles, no more than three months old, were found in luggage destined for Guayaquil in mainland Ecuador during a routine inspection on Baltra Island, authorities said.
The juvenile critters had been wrapped in plastic, and 10 of them had died by the…
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