Red-Eared Sliders Turtle : Seized
Officers of the Customs Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) seized 6,850 live red-eared sliders, a species of turtle, from two male passengers who arrived at the Tiruchi international airport.
- Red-eared sliders turtle is native to the southeastern USA and Mexico.
- It is a semi-aquatic turtle from fresh and brackish water ecosystems.
- It spends the majority of its time either in the water foraging or basking on rocks and logs.
- The species is considered one of the world’s 100 worst invasive non-native species.
- It is known for its distinct red stripes behind each ear.
- They range in colour from dark green to brown, with yellowish ribbons all over their green bodies and along the edge of their dark olive-green shell.
- In the wild, red sliders can live from 20 to 50 years.
- These are fed mainly on plants and small animals, such as crickets and fish etc.
- Conservation status
- IUCN: Least Concern
