Malagasy
police are searching for a Tanzanian national alleged to be trafficking
endangered tortoises from the southern Africa island nation.
The police say about 104 radiated tortoises (Astrochelys radiata) were found at the man’s residence in Isotry, a suburb in Madagascar’s capital Antananarivo.
The 47-year-old man was identified as Mr Jalal Sathik Batcha.
“The reptiles appeared ready for transit,” the police said.
Radiated
tortoises are endemic to Madagascar, and are listed as critically
endangered on International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN)
Red List of Threatened Species due to poaching and habitat loss.
“Madagascar
loses about $230 million due to trafficking of reptiles,” said Dr
Tsibara Mbohoahy, a lecturer at Toliara University, during a science
forum in Antananarivo last week.
He said he analysed data of about 26 reptile species illegally exported from Madagascar between 2000 and 2013.
According to Dr Mbohoahy, 43 per cent of the reptiles were terrestrial tortoises including the Astrochelys radiata species.
The tortoises are sought after by collectors especially from Asian countries.
The police handed over the 104 reptiles to the Turtle Survival Alliance, a conservation organisation.
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