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| EUbusiness - Slovakia's turtle population booms after ban on trade |
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18/04/2005
The turtle population in Slovakia has flourished in the wild following a European Union ban on trading in the animals three years ago, the State Nature Conservation Authority said Monday.
While there were just a few dozen red-eared sliders (Trachemys scripta elegans) in the country during the 1990s the animals have bred so well in nature that their numbers have now grown to several thousand, said Roman Rajtar of the institution's office in Banska Bystrice.
"Back in 2002 many people began to release the turtles into the wild and the population grew," said Rajtar.
The turtle species, which hails from north America and Asia, first arrived in Slovakia in 1987. Individuals can live for 80 years or more.
The European Union and other countries banned imports of the animal in 2002, and this month Slovakia also banned ownership.
"The ban excludes around 550 registered Slovak owners who had already obtained the animal in the past," said Rajtar, urging them not to release their turtles into the wild.
Council Regulation (EC) No 338/97 of 9 December 1996 on the protection of species of wild fauna and flora by regulating trade therein
Text and Picture Copyright ? 2005 AFP. All other copyright ? 2005 EUbusiness Ltd. All rights reserved. This material is intended solely for personal use. Any other reproduction, publication or redistribution of this material without the written agreement of the copyright owner is strictly forbidden and any breach of copyright will be considered actionable.
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