A New Taipei City resident is facing up to five years in prison and a fine of up to NT$1 million (US$30,857) for keeping more than 200 critically endangered turtles in captivity.
The man, surnamed Lin (林), was found to have been keeping 177 Chinese box turtles and 103 yellow pond turtles in stainless steel and plastic tanks without changing the water, leading to the death of 13 turtles.
The Shilin District Prosecutors’ Office indicted Lin on a charge of contravening the Wildlife Conservation Act (野生動物保育法) by illegally capturing protected wildlife, which is a crime punishable by up to five years in prison.
Photo courtesy of the Shilin District Prosecutors’ Office
Lin should be aware that the Ministry of Agriculture had categorized Chinese box turtles and yellow pond turtles as first-level, critically endangered and protected species, prosecutors said.
Under the law, protected species should not be harassed, mistreated or hunted, they added.
Some time before Sept. 2, Lin captured the turtles from along the Beiyi Highway, Nangang District (南港), Muzha (木柵) area, Yangmingshan (陽明山) and other mountainous regions, prosecutors said.
After receiving a report from the public, the New Taipei City Animal Protection and Health Inspection Office on Sept. 5 seized 169 live and five dead Chinese box turtles, and 98 live and five dead yellow pond turtles from Lin.
The Seventh Special Police Corps seized an additional three dead Chinese box turtles.
Lin admitted to the charges without denial, prosecutors said.
His actions were driven solely by personal preference, significantly harmed the ecosystem and led to the death of protected turtles, they said, urging the court to impose a heavy sentence and a substantial fine.
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