Peru Rescues Countless Turtles from Illegal Trade

Authorities at Lima's airport in Peru have confiscated over 4,000 live turtles that were intended to be trafficked to Indonesia. The turtles, which are highly sought after for their eggs and meat, were found to have incorrect export papers, which misidentified the species and age of some of the animals. The seized turtles have been transported to an approved breeding center in Lima, where they will be cared for until a final decision is made about their future. No turtles have been reported dead thus far. Environmental officials have noted that over 400 of the seized turtles are South American river turtles, whose legal origin could not be determined. The International Union of Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has recommended reclassifying this species as "critically endangered" due to their declining numbers. The rest of the reptiles are Taricaya turtles, also known as yellow-spotted river turtles, but their estimated age did not match the information provided on the paperwork. Peru's National Forestry and Wildlife Service (Serfor) has reported rescuing thousands of animals from illegal traffickers annually, with monkeys, turtles, and parrots among the most commonly trafficked species.