Once landed, merchants could sell them locally. Alternatively, they could be sent to another more distant country at higher prices. New star turtle owners in Facebook groups list locations ranging from Glenrothes in Scotland to Davao City in the Philippines. “Hong Kong and Thailand act like gateways,” said Neil D`Cruze, head of the animal welfare and research department at the NGO World Animal Protection, which has studied the trade in Indian star turtles. NGOs like TRAFFIC have encouraged Thailand to extend its laws to non-native species. Activists also called on the European Union to follow the example of the United States, where the Lacey Act makes it illegal to buy or sell cash collected in violation of the laws of their home country. The Indian Star Turtle was previously listed in Schedule II, which meant that regulated trade in export permits was permitted. However, according to the CITES trade database, no permits have been issued by India, Sri Lanka or Pakistan for the commercial export of Indian star turtles since 1999. Nevertheless, thousands of star turtles continued to be traded illegally. In 2017 alone, 6,040 Indian star turtles were seized in 11 incidents in India, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand. This article will only give you information about illegal pets in India. This should in no way be treated as legal advice. You should seek professional advice from the police and lawyers before getting a pet to avoid any kind of problems.
“There are serious concerns that star turtles exported from Jordan, Ukraine, Hong Kong and Slovenia during this period were not legally bred in captivity,” D`Cruze said, adding that none appeared to have the right CITES import records. “[This] raises important questions about the legality of their founding stock.” According to reports, it was collected illegally in 2014 in only one area of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh Although it can be fascinating to see videos of people sharing their homes with wild animals, it is not advisable to keep them. By wild animals we do not mean wild lions or cheetahs! There are many exotic animals and endangered animal species listed as “forbidden pets” in India. While you may think that owning a parrot or turtle is harmless, it is not only unethical, but also illegal to keep them as pets and can put you in jail. Dr Saket Badola, head of TRAFFIC`s Indian office and author of the study, said in a press release: “Turtles and freshwater turtles in India are probably the most traded wildlife species in terms of numbers in the illegal trade. It is extremely worrying to see the extent of the illegal internal market for these species for the pet trade and meat consumption. The scale of seizures of Indian species in India is indicative of a well-organized network of collectors, transporters and human traffickers engaged in this trade. Immediate action is needed, both in terms of enforcement initiatives and awareness of the species in question.
The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora – or CITES – is a legally binding global agreement signed by 183 countries to ensure that international trade in wild animals or plants does not lead to the extinction of wildlife. In 2019, international trade in Indian star turtles was banned when the species was listed on Appendix I of the United Nations Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) after India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Senegal lobbied. We are looking for the companion of a pet for rest and relaxation. Therefore, always check the laws before having a pet. This section is not legal advice. Always consult law enforcement before keeping a pet. There are many animals listed as “forbidden pets” in India. Although you may think that owning a bird or tarantula is harmless, it is illegal to keep them as pets and can put you in jail. Stuffed in suitcases, wrapped in shopping bags and trapped in coolers: every year, thousands of Indian star turtles are forced to endure terrible conditions while smuggled out of their native India and Sri Lanka.
