The Hunters’ Search and Rescue Team and game wardens rescued 24 “malnourished” and “extremely hungry” tortoises in Gasparillo yesterday.
The animals, which are protected species, were found in poor conditions in an enclosed area in the backyard of a resident’s property. They comprised 18 yellow-footed and six red-footed tortoises. Fourteen were male and ten were female. They were rescued by the Vallence Rambharat-led Hunters’ Search and Rescue Team and game wardens from the Forestry Division.
Rambharat explained he received information that the owner of the tortoises left them in someone’s care, but the person no longer had the resources or time to care for them so he contacted his group.
He said the arrangement was that they would visit the property in a “non-confrontational” manner, and remove the animals on the condition that no charges were laid. Rambharat, however, said they observed that the animals were malnourished and kept in unsanitary conditions with no food and an insufficient water supply.
“In terms of size and weight, they were really underweight. We noticed smaller legs proportionate to their size and also a deformity on their shell that leads us to conclude that there is some deficiency in their diet,” he said.
Game Warden II Steve Seepersad estimated that the animals were in captivity for about 15 years.
He reminded the public that all turtles in T&T were protected. He said a person needs to get a permit to keep them in captivity.
Failure to have a permit, the game warden said, carries a $5,000 fine, and the penalty for hunting a turtle is a $10,000 fine.
Urging the public against poaching the tortoises, Seepersad said their numbers were dwindling and they could soon become extinct.
He said some people keep them as pets, for religious beliefs or food.
While the animals’ owner had not yet been located, the game warden said investigations were ongoing.
The turtles were taken to the Serpentarium. However, Rambharat said the tortoises seemed to be domesticated so he was uncertain as to whether or not they would be released into the wild.
