Undercover sting takes down international endangered turtle smuggler
An undercover organisation has apprehended an international reptile smuggler, spanning across two continents. Last week, Nai Chun Vincent Cheung, 54, was arrested for allegedly smuggling hundreds of protected freshwater turtles that were shipped from Florida to Hong Kong. The illegal activity occurred over an 18-month period. Authorities captured Cheung in California on August 8th, who now faces the charges against him in federal court.
Freshwater turtles are some of the world’s most vulnerable vertebrates and are highly sought after by many cultures for various reasons. Current environmental and wildlife legislation is helping some endangered turtle populations rebound, however, they still remain under threat from such people who seek to exploit them.
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ALSO: Be sure to see Keysweekly story ‘Troubled Waters: Turtle’s Tale’ a WLRN documentary which explores the impact of human activity on the environment through a sea turtle’s perspective. See story below.
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Biology
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Ecology
USA: Troubled Waters: Turtle’s Tale
Education
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Miscellany
USA: western pond turtle trail (VIDEO)
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Photo from the Turtle Room.
