Indian Authorities Foil Attempt To Smuggle Star Tortoises To Malaysia

NEW DELHI, Jan 6 (Bernama) -- Airport authorities in India's Chennai city foiled an attempt to smuggle 1,364 live star tortoises to Malaysia. They were seized from an air cargo of 13 packages, which were declared as containing 230 kg of live crab, Indian media reported. The consignment was inspected by customs officials on Tuesday upon a tip-off about an attempt to smuggle wildlife and the tortoises were found in seven of the packages. The tortoises were handed over to the Tamil Nadu Forest Department for rehabilitation in their natural habitat, the report said. Found in certain locations in south India, star tortoises are used as pets in some Southeast Asian countries. -- BERNAMA