Twenty protected turtles packed in socks from China intercepted in Gandia

The Nature Protection Service (Seprona) of the Guardia Civil in Gandía intercepted an unlawful consignment including 20 specimens of a protected turtle species, packaged from China with socks and plush animals.

According to the Guardia Civil, the turtles, some of which were already dead due to “stress, poor handling, and the length of the trip,” are of the Geoemyda spengleri species, also known as the “black-bellied leaf turtle,” which is listed in Appendix II of the CITES Convention and is considered one of the smallest in the world.

The package lacked the necessary papers and was shipping the animals “in deplorable conditions,” crammed between toy animals and inside socks.

Geoemyda spengleri, a species native to Southeast Asia, develops to a maximum length of 15 centimetres as an adult and requires certain climatic conditions to survive. Its international trade is heavily restricted due to its inclusion in CITES Appendix II, therefore importing it without a permit is a major offence with criminal repercussions.

Transfer to Terra Natura

Following their discovery, the live specimens were rushed to Terra Natura Benidorm, a centre for the conservation and treatment of exotic species, where a team of veterinarians and herpetologists followed a specialised care procedure.

The Terra Natura Benidorm technical team has initiated health testing and studies to detect any parasites or illnesses caused by interaction with wildlife.

The turtles were identified using a microchip and are being kept in isolation under close veterinary tide veterinary monitoring.

Feeding is one of the most difficult issues for the Terra Natura Benidorm team right now, as this omnivorous animal requires specialised diets tailored to its natural environment.

“This case is a worrying example of the real impact of illegal wildlife trafficking, a criminal activity that threatens global biodiversity and puts animal lives at risk,” according to park herpetologist David Marti, who added that “in addition to violating international regulations, these types of practices compromise the stability of entire ecosystems and hinder conservation efforts for already vulnerable species.”

For these reasons, Seprona agents have probed a 53-year-old Spanish man for trafficking in endangered animals, and further investigations are not ruled out.