Couple Arrested for Smuggling 13 Percent of a Tortoise Species

Recently, Thailand authorities arrested a couple who was trying to smuggle 54 ploughshare tortoises and 21 radiated tortoises. However, it isn't the total number of tortoises that were snuggled that's making news. It is the fact that the 54 ploughshare tortoises are among the only living 400 ploughshare tortoises found in the the world now, meaning that the duo attempted to smuggle 13 percent of the tortoise species in a suitcase.

The 38-year-old Thai man was caught as he was trying to collect a bag containing the tortoises from Madagascar, reported Traffic. The species of the tortoises are found only in Madagascar and are protected by law.

"The criminals behind this shipment of Ploughshare Tortoises have effectively stolen over 10% of the estimated population in the wild. They should not be allowed to get away with it. They should face the full force of the law," said Chris R. Shepherd, Deputy Director of TRAFFIC in Southeast Asia, in a statement.

Illigal trade along with loss of habitat in the country has decreased ploughshare's population in the wild, according to durrell wildlife conservation trust.

"This tortoise is one of the world's most endangered animals. It is the world's most endangered tortoise. And it has an incredibly high price on its head. Asian countries love gold and this is a gold tortoise. And so literally, these are like gold bricks that one can pick up and sell," Eric Goode, tortoise conservation advocate had told CBS in 2012.