MANILA, Philippines – Over a hundred freshwater turtles and other reptiles seized from a traveling Chinese national the other week have been returned by Hong Kong wildlife authorities to the Philippines.
Palawan officials received Thursday, August 2, a cargo containing 39 forest turtles found only in the province, 49 Asian box turtles, 19 Mindanao water monitors and a reticulated python.
Palawan Governor Abraham Kahlil Mitra personally received the species from Hong Kong authorities and turned them over to the conservation non-government organization, Katala Foundation.
He said they were seized from a Chinese national identified as Zhang Wen Wei on June 14. Chinese authorities found a total of 137 Philippine reptiles in Wei’s baggage. One hundred eight were returned to Palawan, and the others are under the care of the Environment Department’s Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau.
Wei, who was arrested in February for attempting to smuggle the same Philippine species into China, is again detained in Hong Kong.
Former Senator Miguel Zubiri, chair of Katala Foundation, said the turtles and the other reptiles will undergo rehabilitation before they are released back into the wild.
Zubiri expressed dismay over the failure of Philippine airport authorities to prevent the shipment containing the rare species from leaving the country.
“This was the second time already this happened and involved the same Chinese traveler. It’s unforgivable that our airport authorities even failed to detect the cargo when we have x-rays that should have been able to detect the shipment,” Zubiri said.
For his part, Mitra said Palawan will invite customs and airport officials to appear before the provincial board to explain “why it seems our ability to detect shipments like this is very weak.”
“Our x-ray machines are supposed to detect heat and chemicals. The body signatures were supposed to be seen on these machines,” Zubiri said. – Rappler.com
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