Customs officials in Brunei discovered 4,150 marine turtle eggs – the contents of about 30 – 40 nests – in the largest turtle egg seizure so far this year.
Acting on a tip from the public, it was reported that customs officials at the Kuala Lurah Control Post were able to confiscate 4,150 illegal turtle eggs hidden beneath boxes of dried shrimp in a vehicle attempting to enter the country.
Three species of marine turtles – Hawksbill, Olive Ridley, and Green – nest in the area. Hawksbill Turtles lay about 140 eggs per nest, Olive Ridleys about 105, and Green Turtle nests contain about 100 eggs.
The lucrative black market in turtle eggs is so pervasive that turtle eggs can reportedly be ordered in advance among illegal traders. The eggs apparently change hands after traders and buyers identify each other with clandestine hand signals, sometimes in public places, such as the busy Kota Kinabalu market.
Customs officials said that the court would decide if the eggs would be turned over to the Fisheries Department or destroyed.
Also in Brunei, researchers recently released a female Olive Ridley Turtle fitted with a satellite transmitter to monitor migration routes and nesting habitats.
Illegal trade in turtle eggs
Illegal harvesting of eggs is one of the major threats to all species of marine turtles. It is estimated that 100% of all unprotected nests are raided.
Three of the seven species of marine turtle are critically endangered:
- Hawksbill Turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) – Critically Endangered
- Kemp’s Ridley Turtle (Lepidochelys kempii) – Critically Endangered
- Leatherback Turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) – Critically Endangered
- Loggerhead Turtle (Caretta caretta) – Endangered
- Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas) – Endangered
- Olive Ridley Turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea) – Vulnerable
- Flatback Turtle (Natator depressus) – IUCN classification “Data Deficient”
For an inspiring marine turtle conservation story, check out my recent post about how an innovative performance-based conservation program is helping Hawksbill Turtles.
Image source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/qnr/ / CC BY-SA 2.0
About Rhishja Cota-Larson
Why can’t people leave anything alone?! Poking and prodding until all of our precious ecosystems are irreversibly destroyed.
Channel 6 in Costa Rica (Central America) reported last night (30 Sept 09) that more than 15,000 sea turtle eggs were confiscated from 6 men arrested with them. The market is brisk and these eggs, had they been sold, would bring about US$6,000 in the tavern and aphrodisiac market.