Ever heard of a turtle smuggling scandal? 🐢 Well, that's exactly what's unfolding in Zhuhai City, Guangdong Province, on the Chinese mainland! On Wednesday, the Intermediate People's Court kicked off China's first-ever public trial for the illegal introduction of an invasive alien species.
A defendant, known by the surname Yi, is in hot water for sneaking in a whopping 1,760 red-eared slider turtles without a valid quarantine certificate back in October 2022. That's a lot of turtles! 🐢🐢🐢🐢 The stash is estimated to be worth around 88,000 yuan (about $12,149).
Why all the fuss over some turtles? Turns out, red-eared sliders are among the world's top 100 most invasive species, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature. They're not just cute; they can wreak havoc on local ecosystems! 🌍⚠️
The prosecutors aren't taking this lightly. Given the sheer number of turtles and their potential impact, they proposed that Yi face criminal charges for illegally introducing an invasive species. Talk about shell-shocking! 🐢⚖️
As the trial unfolds, environmentalists and law enthusiasts alike are tuning in to see how China handles this unprecedented case. Stay tuned for more updates! 📺🔍
Reference(s):
Chinese court tries first case of smuggling over 1,700 turtles
cgtn.com
