Rhode Island
GoLocalProv | News | RI Man Charged With 16 Counts of Possession of a Protected Reptile Without a Permit
Thursday, September 29, 2022
PHOTO: RI DEM
The Rhode Island Division of Environmental Administration’s Division of Regulation Enforcement has charged a person for illegally possessing — and making an attempt to promote — protected turtles.
DEM introduced the next.
“This week, Rhode Island Environmental Police Officers from DEM’s Division of Regulation Enforcement discovered 16 Jap Musk Turtle hatchlings, a species native to RI and the Jap US, within the residence of a West Warwick man suspected of illegally promoting them on the market on Craigslist and Fb.
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The case resulted from a week-long investigation the place the suspect supplied two hatchlings to undercover Environmental Police Officers for buy. He additionally indicated he was in possession of 16 musk turtle hatchlings in each direct communications and on-line advert postings. The suspect has been charged with 16 counts of ‘Possession of a Protected Reptile or Amphibian with no Allow.’
The turtles had been seized and transferred to Roger Williams Park Zoo & Carousel Village the place they’ve a room devoted to the care of turtles seized from the unlawful turtle commerce. The turtles will probably be launched again into the wild after clearing well being screenings and illness testing. The gear and area for his or her rehabilitation are made attainable by a grant from The Affiliation of Zoos and Aquariums, North American Turtle Protected Program.
Eradicating wildlife from its pure habitat to maintain as a pet is not simply unlawful – it could possibly have main impacts on Rhode Island’s native ecosystems. Biologically, turtles are particularly weak to over-collection. Some species should reproduce for his or her complete lives to make sure only one hatchling survives to maturity. And it takes years, typically many years, for turtles to succeed in reproductive age, in the event that they make it in any respect. Most fall sufferer to predators earlier than they mature. RI’s turtles are additionally threatened by habitat loss, habitat fragmentation, and automotive strikes when crossing roads. Study RI Reptile and Amphibian Guidelines and Rules right here.
Assist us defend our state’s valuable pure assets for future generations. Shield our native species by reporting suspected unlawful assortment and different fish or wildlife violations to Rhode Island Environmental Police at 401-222-3070 (24/7). Bear in mind by no means to share turtle places on-line! It may be thrilling to see turtles within the wild, and to share your discovery.
However earlier than you are taking a photograph of a turtle within the wild, flip off the geolocation in your cellphone. In the event you publish a turtle photograph on social media, do not embrace details about the place you discovered it. Poachers use location info to focus on websites. As an alternative, you possibly can assist by changing into a neighborhood scientist and submitting your observations of amphibians and reptiles to DEM scientists utilizing the Herp Observer app.”
To study extra about Rhode Island’s turtles go right here.
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