ARGENTINA: Dangerous snakes among almost 400 reptiles discovered at Argentine airport en route to the Czech Republic

Record ID: 446854

  • Title: ARGENTINA: Dangerous snakes among almost 400 reptiles discovered at Argentine airport en route to the Czech Republic
  • Date: 19th January 2012
  • Summary: BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA (JANUARY 17, 2012) (REUTERS) VARIOUS EXTERIORS OF VETERINARY CENTRE AT BUENOS AIRES ZOO CLAUDIO BERTONATTI, DIRECTOR OF BUENOS AIRES ZOO, WITH CONFISCATED SNAKES IN HIS HAND VARIOUS OF CONFISCATED SNAKES VARIOUS OF CONFISCATED TURTLES ZOO VETERINARY TEAM SHOWING CONFISCATED REPTILES (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) CLAUDIO BERTONATTI, DIRECTOR OF BUENOS AIRES ZOO, SAYING: "One of the most long-standing environmental problems in Argentina is the illegal wildlife trade. In the past few days, we have received one of the biggest shipments in recent times, with almost 400 animals, almost all reptiles, spiders, snakes, lizards, geckos and turtles, from all over the world. There are lots of Australian lizards and false coral [snakes] from Central America and south of the United States." VARIOUS OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF SNAKES VARIOUS OF POLICE SAFETY CORDS AROUND ONE SHIPMENT OF ANIMALS AT THE AIRPORT VARIOUS OF INSIDE THE AIRPORT VARIOUS OF PLANES AT THE AIRPORT INCLUDING A LAN AIRLINES PLANE TAKING OFF ANIBAL ONETTO, POLICE CHIEF OF AIRPORT SECURITY AND HEAD OF THE OPERATION, TALKING TO REUTERS JOURNALIST (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) ANIBAL ONETTO, POLICE CHIEF IN CHARGE OF THE OPERATION, SAYING: "The procedure began with a checked bag on an Iberia flight. When passing through x-ray controls, the personnel operating the machine saw some strange images and therefore requested the presence of the passenger. A warrant was established to proceed to open the luggage. The surprise on opening the luggage was that it contained only reptiles. There were almost no clothes, only socks, and inside the socks there were snakes or lizards or turtles in small pots. There were some dangerous and poisonous snakes. They were headed to somewhere such as Prague and chances are that there is no anti-venom in these locations for this type of species. " SEVERAL OF CONFISCATED LIZARDS GENERAL VIEW OF THE CONFISCATED ANIMALS IN PLASTIC BOXES SEVERAL DIFFERENT TYPES OF CONFISCATED REPTILES IN BUENOS AIRES ZOO
  • Embargoed: 3rd February 2012 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Argentina, Argentina
  • Country: Argentina
  • Topics: Crime,Nature / Environment
  • Reuters ID: LVAS7W8LFU9P3NSCXI2Z5HYJ1RW
  • Story Text: Dangerous snakes were among hundreds of smuggled reptiles settling into their new home at the Buenos Aires Zoo on Monday (January 17) after being confiscated by airport officials last month.
    Zoo Director Claudio Bertonatti has taken charge of the seized shipment, which mainly consisted of various species of reptile.
    "One of the most long-standing environmental problems in Argentina is the illegal wildlife trade. In the past few days, we have received one of the biggest shipments in recent times, with almost 400 animals, almost all reptiles, spiders, snakes, lizards, geckos and turtles, from all over the world. There lots of Australian lizards and false coral [snakes] from Central America and south of the United States," said Bertonatti.
    It was early December when Argentina came close to having its own 'Snakes on a Plane' moment, just like the Hollywood movie.
    An alleged Czech animal trafficker, Karel Abelovsky, was intercepted just before boarding with over 400 reptiles hidden inside his luggage.
    The police officer in charge of the airport operation, Anibal Onetto, said authorities believed the shipment was on its way to Prague.
    "The procedure began with a checked bag in the hold of an Iberia flight. When passing through x-ray controls, the personnel operating the machine saw some strange images and therefore requested the presence of the passenger. A warrant was established to proceed to open the luggage. The surprise on opening the luggage was that it contained only reptiles. There were almost no clothes, only socks, and inside the socks there were snakes or lizards or turtles in small pots. There were some dangerous and poisonous snakes. They were headed to somewhere such as Prague and the chances are that there is no anti-venom in these locations for this type of species," said Onetto.
    Among the smuggled reptiles was the venomous 'false coral' snake.
    The global assortment of creatures will now be kept at the zoo, under the care of veterinary experts.
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