Not Just Siamese Crocodile... Owner of Alligator Snapping Turtle Also Booked

While the owner of a critically endangered Siamese crocodile found along a stream in Yeoju, Gyeonggi Province, has been caught by police, a turtle he owned has also been finally confirmed to be an alligator snapping turtle, an endangered species.

The Yeoju Police Station in Gyeonggi Province announced today (August 3) that it has additionally booked a man in his 30s, identified as A, on charges of violating the Wildlife Protection and Management Act.

A is suspected of raising an alligator snapping turtle—listed as a CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) Appendix II endangered species—without any permits.

Although police stated that A claims he purchased and raised the alligator snapping turtle a long time ago, they decided to book him criminally because unauthorized breeding and failure to register breeding facilities constitute a violation of the law at the present time, regardless of whether it was listed under CITES at the time of purchase.

A police official said, "We were notified by the National Institute of Ecology that it has been confirmed as an alligator snapping turtle, a CITES Appendix II species," adding, "We plan to voluntarily receive the turtle from the suspect and transfer it to the National Institute of Ecology."


Previously on July 18, fire authorities captured a crocodile along the Soyangcheon stream in Chang-dong, Yeoju, after receiving a report from a resident saying, "There looks like a pet crocodile."

The crocodile was identified as a Siamese crocodile, a CITES Appendix I endangered species. Police launched an investigation into the owner and apprehended A eight days later on July 26, booking him on charges of violating the Wildlife Protection Act.

Police had been investigating the case after also discovering an alligator snapping turtle, known as an ecosystem-disrupting species, inside A's residence.

(Photo courtesy of Yeoju City, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.