The project involved thousands of flying squirrels captured in less than three years and exported to Asia, officials said
Seven people have been charged in connection with a Florida-based international flying squirrel trafficking program, in which thousands of the creatures have been exported to Asia, conservation officials said Monday. ‘State
As many as 3,600 flying squirrels, a protected species in the state, have been trapped in less than three years, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said in a statement Poachers have deployed 10,000 squirrel traps throughout the area around Marion County, Fla., About 80 miles north of Orlando, he said
Poachers sold the animals to a wildlife dealer, Rodney Knox, near Bushnell, Fla., who then ‘laundered’ them through his licensed business, claiming they had been bred in captivity, said the commission
South Korean buyers traveled to Florida, bought the squirrels and drove them in rental cars in Chicago, the commission said An « unwitting exporter of wildlife » then sent them to Asia, he said, and as the program grew, couriers from Georgia used Atlanta as a stop for the export.
The squirrels were worth over a million dollars, and Mr. Knox received $ 213,800 in trafficking, commission said Six of the seven people were arrested, while one is a fugitive, he said, adding that four of those arrested were from Florida and two from Georgia
Mr. Knox has been charged with money laundering, grand theft and trafficking in stolen goods, among other charges The others face similar charges
M’s lawyers Knox and the other defendants could not be contacted immediately on Monday
The commission was told by a concerned citizen in January 2019 of the trapping During a 19-month investigation, the commission said, investigators found that the Florida suspects also trapped and trafficked in turtles from freshwater and alligators protected by similar means
The investigation included conservation officials from Illinois, California and Georgia, as well as the US Department of Homeland Security
Flying squirrels are the smallest of the three tree squirrel species native to Florida, said Steve Johnson, associate professor of ecology and wildlife conservation at the University of Florida at Gainesville
They feed on normal squirrel snacks like acorns, he said, and perch in hijacked bird nests
Removing trafficked squirrels from their ecosystems could impact their predators, such as owls and ‘rat snakes which are very good climbers,’ Dr Johnson said that, however, because the squirrels have a high reproduction rate, the population will most likely be able to bounce back quite quickly after poaching
Buyers on the receiver side of the traffic ring likely bought the flying squirrels as pets In South Korea and other parts of East Asia, cute and exotic animals like flying squirrels are popular and are featured in cafes where patrons can sip coffee and play with the creatures
Dr Johnson, however, said buyers might have gotten more than they bargained for. Flying squirrels are nocturnal and are likely a nuisance to have at night
« I don’t see the use of having a rodent nocturnal rodent as a pet, » he said
Florida, flying squirrels, squirrels
World News – United States – Seven accused in flying squirrel trafficking ring, Florida officials say
SOURCE: https://www.w24news.com
