Malaysia is to repatriate 385 rare Indian Star tortoises this week, that were seized here in April from a smuggler, an official said on Monday.
Customs officials at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport found the tortoises inside the luggage of an Indian national, who was probably trying to sell them to pet shops in the country, said Haidar Khan, a senior official in Malaysia’s Department of Wildlife and National Parks.
The smuggler has already been deported back to India.
There were 404 tortoises in the luggage, but only 385 managed to survive, Mr Khan said.
The tortoises, indigenous to South Asia, have star patterns on their shells and are considered an endangered species.
But since it is not a protected species in Malaysia, the smuggler could not be charged.
Star tortoises were also seized from smugglers in 2003 and 2005. They were returned to India in both cases.
Another smuggling case came to light recently.
Officials found 76 Leopard tortoises in two air-mailed parcels from Tanzania, Mr Khan said adding that the animals were strapped and cramped inside the box.