人类活动范围的扩大和对自然资源的过度开发，让许多生活在地球上的生物物种都濒临灭绝，但人类始终不知反省，为了自身利益仍然继续将这些物种赶尽杀绝。 ; r* T* |. m1 ~1 ?* c a. ^
Customs officers at Kuala Lumpur airport have found nearly 400 rare tortoises smuggled from Madagascar.
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The Radiated and Ploughshare tortoises were on the last leg of their journey to pet shops and possibly cooking pots, Malaysian officials believe.
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6 X2 @. b1 d& ]( Z | Also recovered were more than 40 rare tomato frogs.
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3 e. K: _. k7 G/ I4 g, Z There are fears that as Madagascar's political problems continue, illegal exportation of the country's animals and plants is on the rise.. ~% ]8 ]9 d! O7 r; H" [
- w, I; }1 }- R* Y( U r It is the second such find in the last month.
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/ u# j1 i. C: @$ O4 Y7 C Two Malagasy women have been arrested. Officials say the animals were found in their luggage.
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2 h Z5 g6 J( W 'Free for all'4 G: F; ]4 {; X/ i
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Richard Thomas of Traffic International, an organisation trying to stop the illegal trade in exotic animals, said both species of tortoise involved in this case were incredibly rare.
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Much of Madagascar's flora and fauna, including its famous lemurs, are unique to the island. They draw hundreds of thousands of tourists to the country.
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9 h1 S8 q; [) X6 y9 T+ H8 `3 l8 B. M3 n They are also under increasing threat from exploitation.( d& B, O$ h8 [
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This, says Mr Thomas, is not being helped by a collapsing economy brought on by political problems.
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Some conservationists talk of a "free for all" in Madagascar with criminal gangs operating virtually at will.
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A recent report by the Global Witness group uncovered a massive industry in smuggling precious hardwoods. Members of the police and forestry departments were implicated.
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" y& S, c& B6 A4 u) F& H The government has also legalised the sale of some seized hardwoods.7 T+ R, q1 L. I/ c
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The environmental group WWF says the authorities have been in effect selling illegally harvested wood for their own profit. |
发表于 2012-8-14 23:21:39
