Following the apprehension of the owner of a Siamese crocodile—a Class 1 internationally endangered species—discovered near a stream in Yeoju, Gyeonggi Province, it has been finally confirmed that a turtle he owned is also an endangered alligator snapping turtle.

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

A is suspected of raising an alligator snapping turtle, listed as a Class 2 internationally endangered species under CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora), without any permits.

While police stated that A claims to have purchased and raised the alligator snapping turtle a long time ago, they decided to criminally book him because raising it without a permit or registering the breeding facility at present constitutes a violation of the law, 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 Class 2 internationally endangered species," adding, "We plan to voluntarily receive the alligator snapping turtle from the suspect and transfer it to the National Institute of Ecology."


Previously, on July 18, fire authorities captured a crocodile after receiving a report from a resident near Soyang Stream in Chang-dong, Yeoju, who said, "There seems to be a pet-like crocodile."

The crocodile was identified as a Siamese crocodile, a Class 1 internationally endangered species. The police launched an investigation into the owner, apprehended A eight days later on the 26th of the same month, and booked him for violating the Wildlife Protection Act.

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

(Photo provided by Yeoju City, Yonhap News)