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Things just got much bad for two critically endanger tortoise mintage in Madagascar . Illegal poaching is " raging out of control " and campaign radiated and ploughshare tortoises to the brink of extinction , according to a statement from the Wildlife Conservation Society ( WCS ) .
More than 1,000 of the animals have been confiscated from smugglers in the first three months of 2013 alone , the environmental radical report . A sum of 54 ploughshare tortoises were intercepted in Thailand , and the species is " now the most common tortoise for sales event in Bangkok ’s infamous Chatuchak wildlife market , " fit in to the statement .
The ploughshare tortoise, found only in Madagascar, is being collected out of existence by illegal wildlife traffickers.
Theploughshare tortoisewas once common in northerly Madagascar but as of 2008 it was estimated that there were only 400 individuals give in the wilderness , according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature . These reptilian can grow up to 19 inches ( 47 centimetre ) long and weigh up to 42 pound ( 19 kilograms ) .
Theradiated tortoiselives in the country ’s south . Its dreary dark-brown or black vaulted shell is traverse with bright yellow or orange starlike patterns and can produce up to 16 inches ( 40 cm ) long . They can live for an judge 100 year , according to the IUCN .
" These tortoises are truly one of Madagascar ’s most iconic species , " James Deutsch , executive director of the Africa Program at WCS , said in the program line . " This level of exploitation is unsustainable . Unless prompt action is taken to well protect the risky populations , their extinction is imminent . "
The ploughshare tortoise, found only in Madagascar, is being collected out of existence by illegal wildlife traffickers.
Due to their unique looker , many of the animals are call for for the illegal pet craft . Illegal poaching and smuggling has increased about tenfold since Madagascar ’s political crisis began in 2009 , come with by gnaw at law and parliamentary law , the WCS said . In the past times , it was regard taboo to harm the tortoises , although this tradition has faded with age of drought and increasing impoverishment , according to the statement .
The radiated tortoise has disappeared from wide areas of its native habitat in southern Madagascar due to hunting for food and the illegal pet trade.
