2 arrested in Hong Kong for keeping 31 turtles of rare species, in largest case of illegal possession of such endangered animals in city

Two men have been arrested for keeping 31 turtles belonging to various rare species, including some believed to have been caught from local streams, marking the largest case of illegal possession of the endangered animals in Hong Kong.

Twenty-one live turtles – involving five species – and 10 dead specimens were found in a residential unit in Kowloon on Tuesday, under a joint operation conducted by the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department and police. Two men were arrested at the scene.

It is the largest number of turtles found in local illegal possession cases.

“[These turtles] are very rare in Hong Kong because they cannot be found in all areas of Hong Kong, just limited to some areas with good-quality habitat,” said Tony Chan King-tung, a fauna conservation officer. “[We believe] some of them are hunted locally.”

Three local species were found in the operation, namely six big-headed turtles, three Beale’s eyed turtles and nine golden coin turtles. They inhabit streams with clean water.

Two non-local species, a wattle-necked softshell turtle and two yellow-margined box turtles, were also discovered, and officers say they believe the animals could belong to species found in Africa or Southeast Asia. The department is also investigating the origins of the 10 dead turtles.

The department said the suspects claimed on social media they had caught the turtles in the city’s rural areas, and traded local and overseas endangered species in Hong Kong. Officers are investigating whether they have been hunting wild animals illegally.