Latest news and updates
Rare tortoises seized at airport
30 June 2009
Three rare African tortoises have been seized at Manchester Airport by UK Border Agency officers.
The reptiles are all specimens of Kleinmann's tortoise (Testudo kleinmanni), which has been driven close to extinction by the loss of its natural habitat in Egypt and Libya. They were seized on 25 June when they arrived on a flight from Libya.
Colin Brown, UK Border Agency assistant director at Manchester Airport, said:
'These are one of the most endangered tortoises in the wild and are "red listed" under current legislation. The tortoises were seized immediately when they were identified, and will be temporarily re-homed until a decision about their final destination has been made.
'Live animal imports, whether by private individuals or the commercial pet trade, are tightly regulated. We and our colleagues in HM Revenue & Customs take our role in enforcing international agreements and prohibitions, designed to protect endangered species and preserve natural environments, very seriously.'
The Washington Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (commonly known as CITES) regulates and monitors the international trade in certain species of plants and animals, to prevent it reaching unsustainable levels.
We take our role in enforcing international agreements and prohibitions very seriously. Colin Brown, UK Border Agency
To comply with the legal requirements set by each country under CITES, importers and exporters - whether they are tourists or businesspeople - must present the appropriate CITES permit or declaration to the customs officials. Criminals who trade in endangered species will often try to bypass these rules, but CITES fraudsters and smugglers face up to seven years' imprisonment and/or an unlimited fine if they are caught in the United Kingdom.
Without the involvement of customs officers worldwide, CITES cannot achieve its objective of protecting endangered species. CITES, which is overseen by the United Nations Environment Programme, works hand in hand with the World Customs Organisation (WCO) - sometimes described as the 'United Nations of customs'.
As an active member of the WCO, the UK Border Agency is fully committed to playing its part in protecting the world's endangered and rare species.