Peruvian authorities thwarted a smuggling attempt at Lima’s international airport, seizing approximately 4,000 Amazon turtles, including specimens from an endangered species. The National Forest and Wildlife Service (Serfor) reported that these creatures were destined for illegal sale in Indonesia.
“Serfor intervenes in a shipment of live turtles at Jorge Chávez airport destined for export to Indonesia,” stated the Ministry of the Environment’s agency in a release. Peru lacks a commercial management protocol for turtles, underscoring the illegality of this operation.
The confiscated shipment includes hatchlings of charapa turtles (Podocnemis expansa) and taricayas (Podocnemis unifilis), discovered within small transparent plastic containers inside cardboard boxes. The charapa turtle is classified as “endangered” under national legislation and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Taricayas, being the second-largest freshwater turtle in the Amazon, are classified as a vulnerable species.
The rescued animals were transported to a Serfor breeding center for care. This incident highlights the persistent threat of illegal wildlife trafficking, a trade that mobilizes around $20 billion globally and ranks among the most lucrative crimes, according to Interpol. Combating this illicit trade is crucial for preserving biodiversity and addressing the loss of endangered species.