Recently in China’s Guangxi region over 100 hawksbill sea turtle shells were found. Smugglers had the shells filled with cotton. In all, there were 109 shells lined up on the sidewalk.
The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) has the trade or purchasing of any real hawksbill shell as an illegal activity. But, it is still being done. You can often find the shells for sale online or at international markets.
It is sold with the name “Tortoise-shell.” The shells can be made into jewelry. There is an unusually high demand for tortoiseshell products in China. But, hawksbill turtles are not the only ones hunted – all sea turtles are hunted and killed for their meat and shells.
Share away, people.
