Endangered giant tortoises slaughtered for food despite 90-year ban
dailystar.co.ukanimals for their meat has been illegal for almost 90 years. The remains of the four tortoises that were recently killed were found in the Galápagos National Park on Isabela Island, Ecuador, last Monday (August 29).The Ecuadorian authorities have launched an investigation into the crime, which follows a similar incident in September last year.READ MORE: Sex-mad giant tortoise saves his entire species from extinction by fathering over 800In that case 15 giant tortoises were found dead on the same island, the largest in the Galápagos group.Photos of the animals’ empty shells and bloody remains were widely shared on social media and caused outrage across the world.A statement from Galápagos Conservancy, an American charity that works to conserve the archipelago’s unique ecological heritage, said: “Evidence from the investigation showed that the reptiles had likely been hunted for consumption.”In March 2021, 185 tiny tortoise hatchlings were found crammed inside a suitcase during a routine customs inspection at Seymour airport in the Galapagos.
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