Colombian authorities have rescued 31 turtles from smugglers who were transporting them in an illegal smuggling operation under cover of darkness.
The authorities stopped a truck belonging to illegal black market smugglers, who were transporting turtles, in the city of Micao.
A video clip broadcast by the abcn channel showed Colombian soldiers during the operation to free the turtles towards the sea.
SWIM FREE: Thirty-one turtles are released back into the sea after they were seized by authorities from illegal black market smugglers who were transporting them on the back of a truck at night. https://t.co/N2z8F4VqpE pic.twitter.com/0nMjQcaQYK
— ABC News (@ABC) October 16, 2021
“We have released 31 turtles, but unfortunately 11 others have died,” a Colombian official said, urging everyone to conserve wildlife.