The freshwater Meso-American slider turtles are protected in Mexico / © AFP
Mexican environmental officials intercepted over 3,400 baby turtles being smuggled in overcrowded boxes, arresting one suspect on wildlife trafficking charges.
Mexican authorities said Friday they had rescued over 3,400 protected baby turtles stuffed into cardboard boxes set to be trafficked.
During a roadblock in the southern state of Chiapas, agents found the critters "in overcrowded conditions" in boxes in a vehicle whose driver was arrested on wildlife trafficking charges, the environmental protection prosecutor's office said in a statement.
Mexican authorities said they had rescued over 3,400 freshwater Meso-American slider baby turtles / © AFP
The baby animals were freshwater Meso-American sliders, native to Mexico, Central America and Colombia.
They are protected in Mexico against overexploitation.
"The specimens were transported without documentation proving their legal origin, which constitutes a violation of environmental regulations," the prosecutor's office said.
The turtles were taken to a specialized unit for rehabilitation and to determine whether they can be released back into the wild.
