Reversing the Black Market Journey of the North American Box Turtles

A box stuffed with two hundred and fifty box turtles, prized for their multicoloured shells, awaits their future in the port of Miami after seizure of an illegal shipment. These seizures are often destined for Asian markets, where the animals are valued for medicinal purposes, as cultural tokens, and as pets. Conservative black-market estimates of $1,000 to $2,000 per turtle in these markets make the trade lucrative.  

Confiscated box turtles suffer from inhumane trafficking conditions, often crammed into a sock and tightly packed with others. Close quarters trigger infections, dehydration, and cracked shells. According to the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, the animals are like trauma victims and in need of rapid, intensive care.