By IANS
Bogota : Around 3,534 endangered turtles have been rescued from a boat in Magdalena river in the country’s northern Bolivar province by the Colombian navy, Spain’s EFE news agency reported Thursday.
The navy rescued 3,534 endangered turtles from a boat and arrested five people, a military spokesman said here. The “icotea” turtles were destined for illegal meat markets, he added.
The boat transporting the endangered species was stopped by the navy for a routine check near Magangue town in the Caribbean province of Bolivar, the official said.
The turtles were handed over to the regional environmental authorities.