Box Turtle Trafficking. Sickening!

[Quixx66]

Man caught hundreds of endangered turtles in North Carolina for sale to Asia, feds say — Fort Worth Star-Telegram

A Franklinville, North Carolina man pleaded guilty to trafficking eastern box turtles, spotted turtles and box turtles to be sold in Asia, officials say.

apple.news

 

[Yvonne G]

Wow, jail time! Usually it's just a slap on the wrist.

 

[Oxalis]

Only 18 months in prison and a fine is not enough!

 

[mark1]

at least they got caught , most don't ............it's why there is a need for federal laws .... these folks do not get caught until they try to get them out the country and violate federal laws .......... state laws do nothing to stop the domestic sale of wild caught state threatened or endangered species , you can drive a short distance to a neighboring where they can be kept and sold legally ,and that is exactly what is done ...... doesn't help when states such as N.C. allow taking regulated numbers of wild turtles , not that the totaly state protected species are any safer ...... i can guarantee every state that allows the harvest of wild turtles will eventually come to the realization there is no sustainable harvest number on any species of turtle ...... i've seen snapping turtles , painted , and softshells become extremely uncommon in the watershed i live on ....... i seen an article on red eared slider populations in the lower rio grand , in 1976 they caught 300 red eared sliders , with an equal number of trap days in 2009 they caught 60 , don't know if it's been redone ,but it would be hard to believe they're population has not further declined .........

 

[Jan A]

at least they got caught , most don't ............it's why there is a need for federal laws .... these folks do not get caught until they try to get them out the country and violate federal laws .......... state laws do nothing to stop the domestic sale of wild caught state threatened or endangered species , you can drive a short distance to a neighboring where they can be kept and sold legally ,and that is exactly what is done ...... doesn't help when states such as N.C. allow taking regulated numbers of wild turtles , not that the totaly state protected species are any safer ...... i can guarantee every state that allows the harvest of wild turtles will eventually come to the realization there is no sustainable harvest number on any species of turtle ...... i've seen snapping turtles , painted , and softshells become extremely uncommon in the watershed i live on ....... i seen an article on red eared slider populations in the lower rio grand , in 1976 they caught 300 red eared sliders , with an equal number of trap days in 2009 they caught 60 , don't know if it's been redone ,but it would be hard to believe they're population has not further declined .........

True dat!! The odds against our wild turtle friends surviving are bad enough as it is without poachers & the like interfering. UGH!!

 

[Tortoise Nana]

Only 18 months in prison and a fine is not enough!

So true. He will be in a minimum security facility and will get good time one for one. Pending any missteps, he will probably only do about 9 months. He is a vile and disgusting excuse for a human being. He should have gotten a month for each baby he sold.

 

[Quixx66]

So true. He will be in a minimum security facility and will get good time one for one. Pending any missteps, he will probably only do about 9 months. He is a vile and disgusting excuse for a human being. He should have gotten a month for each baby he sold.

I agree!

 

[Oxalis]

This sounds like a good opportunity to write some congressmen, senators, and/or wildlife services (like DNR) for those states that allow turtle harvesting. I'm actually surprised that this practice is still legal or even acceptable in this country anymore. I've started writing some people to voice my opinion, and I think this at least helps to put these important issues and facts into the minds of our elected officials. They need to know which issues their taxpayers define as nonnegotiable. So I recommend you write them too; the more, the better!