Uggggh, this news sucks.
Florida wildlife officials are increasingly concerned the state’s turtles are being scooped up by smugglers feeding an international demand for the freshwater and terrestrial reptiles.
Turtle launderers, who “wash” wild-caught animals through illegal trafficking rings like ill-gotten cash, have been targeted by Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission since a 2009 rule banned the commercial harvest and sale of natural-born turtles.
Undercover investigations have since retrieved thousands of stolen turtles worth hundreds of thousands of dollars.
But FWC commissioners were told Thursday to be prepared for an uptick in criminal activity that may require tighter oversight as some coveted species become “literally worth more than gold.”
There are several categories of human behavior* that really get me angry (a good angry). Stuff that no human with any sense of decency should ever be involved with.
One of those is stealing from nature...... messing with the ecosystem and depriving others of the beauty of the world. Such as...... the turtle smugglers mentioned above. And poachers.
Grace & Peace & Love to you all -
Matt
* what are some of the other "categories of human behavior" I refer to above? A sampling of my list:
- those who abuse children
- those who steal from the church
- those who are involved in human trafficking/slavery
- those who desecrate graveyards
- those who do not respect law enforcement and military servicemen
- those who have convinced themselves that a fetus with a heartbeat is not a baby
- those who would rather feed off the generosity of others rather than putting effort into life