Madagascar detains Chinese tourists after live animals ‘found in luggage’
- Pair were travelling with insect research tour group from mainland China when they were stopped at the airport
- They were allegedly trying to carry out lizard and centipede species including endangered chameleon
Two Chinese tourists have been detained in Madagascar, accused of trying to take live animals – including an endangered chameleon species – out of the country.
The pair were travelling with a group of parents and children from mainland China who were visiting the African island nation on an insect research tour organised by a private institute in Beijing, Chengdu Business Daily reported on Wednesday.
They were stopped at the Ivato International Airport in Antananarivo on Saturday as they tried to return to China, allegedly with lizard and centipede species in their luggage.
The man leading the tour was arrested along with a woman whose child was also travelling with the group, the report said, citing a Chinese woman who was interpreting for the police. It was not clear whether they had been charged. The other 17 members of the group have all returned to Beijing.
The case prompted the Chinese embassy in Madagascar to issue a warning to tourists on Monday not to try to take any prohibited items with them when they leave the country, listing the animal and plant species that could not be carried out.
