A Rare Find
As Randrianjafizanaka and the team pulled out the tortoises, she started examining them closer. They were a pretty rare species known as a radiated tortoise. Though they are native to Madagascar, the radiated tortoise was rarely seen in the wild. This tortoise is known for being docile, and they have very unique patterns on their shells. As soon as they realized this, the team knew why the diggers had raised their hands when they saw the police.
Radiated Tortoise
Poaching is a big Concern
One of the reasons that these tortoises are so rare is because they are losing their habitat, and they are often the target of poachers. In some cases, people even eat them, as these tortoises are considered to be a delicacy. People also like to own them as pets, as they are fairly easy to care for and docile. However, it is illegal to own them. What the police have found here is an underground operation that was stealing these tortoises and selling them.
Many Tortoises
