U.K. tortoise imports will slow down

Press, 13 September 1982, Page 8

U.K. tortoise imports will slow down

NZPA London Childhood will not be the same when Britain bans the importation of the Testudo Hermanii,. better known as the tortoise, after 1984. A prohibition, under new E.E.C. regulations, was welcomed at the week-end by the R.S.P.C.A., which had been campaigning for an end to the trade in tortoises since 1977, reported the “Guardian” newspaper. “We are absolutely delighted,” said a spokeswoman.

Dr lan Swingland, a zoologist at the University of Kent, and an expert on tortoises, said: “This is to be welcomed, because the wild populations of tortoises are going down at a very fast rate." With effect from January 1, 1984, the Department of the Environment will issue no import licences for tortoises, although small numbers will still be allowed into the country for scientific purposes. The trade in tortoises, estimated to be worth £1.25

million (5NZ2.95 million) annually a few years ago, is down to about £150.000 ($354,000). There has been growing concern about the way tortoises — mainly from Greece, Turkey. Yugoslavia and North Africa — are crated and shipped to Britain in refrigerated lorries. There has also been concern about their survival rate in this country — about 80 per cent are estimated to have died within 12 months of arrival, said the “Guardian,”