Tell the Maldives- Stop Slaughtering Endangered Sea Turtles
- van: Animal Advocates
- ontvanger: President of the Maldives, Mohammed Waheed Hassan,- John M. Sellar, Chief of Enforcement Support in the CITES Secretariat, International Consortium on Combating Wildlife Crime
Despite international agreements to protect endangered sea turtles, the Maldives authorities take no action to uphold local conservation laws, and the endangered turtles are routinely slaughtered, hatchlings kept as pets, and nests destroyed for egg collection.
Approximately 90-180 sea turtles have been killed this year by locals from Kan’ditheemu island in Shaviyani Atoll and thier eggs collected from beaches. Additionally, fishing vessels participate in sea turtle slaughter. Authorities know this, but claim there is nothing they can do.
There are 5 species of sea turtles in the Maldives; they are a keystone species in the unique ecosystem which the ocean, reef, sea grass, and coasts depend.
Since there is a ban on slaughtering sea turtles, we ask the Maldives to treat this as a crime, imposing fines and jail sentences and educating people on the seriousness of killing endangered species.
SOURCE: http://minivannews.com/politics/widespread-secret-slaughter-of-endangered-sea-turtles-despite-ban-very-tasty-say-killers-55463
Despite international agreements to protect endangered sea turtles, the Maldives authorities take no action to uphold local conservation laws, and the endangered turtles are routinely slaughtered, hatchlings kept as pets, and nests destroyed for egg collection.
Approximately 90-180 sea turtles have been killed this year by locals from Kan’ditheemu island in Shaviyani Atoll and thier eggs collected from beaches. Additionally, fishing vessels participate in sea turtle slaughter. Authorities know this, but claim there is nothing they can do.
There are 5 species of sea turtles in the Maldives; they are a keystone species in the unique ecosystem which the ocean, reef, sea grass, and coasts depend.
Since there is a ban on slaughtering sea turtles, we ask the Maldives to treat this as a crime, imposing fines and jail sentences and educating people on the seriousness of killing endangered species.
SOURCE: http://minivannews.com/politics/widespread-secret-slaughter-of-endangered-sea-turtles-despite-ban-very-tasty-say-killers-55463
