Shell-shocked: California man arrested for attempting to traffic wild turtles | California

A California man who obtained a federal permit to export turtles under the false claim that the turtles were bred in captivity has been arrested on wildlife trafficking charges, authorities said Friday.

Donald Do and an unidentified accomplice allegedly attempted to export 292 loggerhead civet turtles to Taiwan from December 2022 to May 2024. His accomplice obtained a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service export license, after which authorities say Do purchased turtles poached from the wild in Florida and other areas. Do also allegedly sent instructions for the animals to be sent to San Francisco.

Albert Bazaar from Louisiana, who allegedly tried to buy 200 turtles from Do, was also detained on charges of turtle smuggling. Bazaar is accused of poaching and selling more than 1,700 Caretta Caretta civet turtles.

Under the Lacey Act, a federal conservation law, it is illegal to share false information about wildlife in international or interstate commerce. Caretta musk turtles are classified as a protected species.

Caretta civet turtles are so named because of their large heads. They have strong jaws that allow them to feed on hard-shelled prey and can be found in US coastal waters. Their small size (about 3-5 inches) means they can be easily kept in an aquarium.

According to the Department of Justice, law enforcement cracked down on turtle poachers in the southeastern United States in an operation dubbed “Southern Hot Herps.”

It is stated that if Do is found guilty, he faces up to five years in prison. He pleaded not guilty at a recent hearing, according to the Los Angeles Times.

A bond hearing in his case is scheduled for May 21.