The holy cities of Varanasi and Gaya are being increasingly used for smuggling of rare tortoises and freshwater turtles, according to the wildlife trade monitoring network, TRAFFIC.
TRAFFIC officials said the final destination for these turtles, smuggled via Bangkok, is Hong Kong.
The officials pointed out at the recent arrest of suspected smugglers at Bangkok airport to establish the fact that these endangered species originated from Varanasi and Gaya.
"This previously unknown trade route for smuggling turtles from Gaya and Varanasi to Bangkok is often used by religious tourists," says Shekhar Kumar Niraj, Head of TRAFFIC in India.
A TRAFFIC release issued here said the involvement of Thailand, India and Hong Kong in illegal trade of rare tortoises and freshwater turtles was highlighted earlier this year when over a thousand specimens were confiscated from smugglers in three separate seizures.
30/03/14 Economic Times
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TRAFFIC officials said the final destination for these turtles, smuggled via Bangkok, is Hong Kong.
The officials pointed out at the recent arrest of suspected smugglers at Bangkok airport to establish the fact that these endangered species originated from Varanasi and Gaya.
"This previously unknown trade route for smuggling turtles from Gaya and Varanasi to Bangkok is often used by religious tourists," says Shekhar Kumar Niraj, Head of TRAFFIC in India.
A TRAFFIC release issued here said the involvement of Thailand, India and Hong Kong in illegal trade of rare tortoises and freshwater turtles was highlighted earlier this year when over a thousand specimens were confiscated from smugglers in three separate seizures.
30/03/14 Economic Times
