Red-eared Sliders banned in Sri Lanka

Breeding Ninja tortoises in Sri Lanka ....
 taboo

Minister of Wild Life Conservation, Vijithamuni Soysa has decided to
prohibit selling of Red-eared tortoises in Sri Lanka. These Ninja
turtles achieved popularity in the past for having been focused
attention on as a creation in the "Api Raja Ibbo" serialised story.

These tortoise species known as Red-eared Sliders have been imported
to this country and were on display at aquaria in the country and had
even recorded a high sale too. On information received that these
tortoises were on sale in such places as Battaramulla, Panadura and
Kandy, the Wild Life Conservation officers have made necessary
inquiries about this information and the Minister of Wild Life
Conservation had explained that if this type of tortoises are released
to natural sorroundings, all types of fish in that environment would
be subjected to extinction and that the tortoise concerned would
naturally go further in consuming fish spawn including their
offspring.

The Red-eared tortoise has been named as a foreign species of animal
which is of the aggressive and attacking kind. Therefore, Minister
Vijithamuni Soya of the Wild Life and Conversation Department said
that legal action would be taken against owners of aquaria for rearing
or breeding these tortoises.The Red-eared tortoise which is being kept
as a pet in South-East Asia including Malaysia had been imported to
Sri Lanka without proper permission.

The Red-eared tortoise grows to about one and a half feet in length
and it is said that their life-span extends to approximately 60 years.
This tortoise has been called the Red-eared tortoise because a
red-coloured line is seen to be extending on each side from the
crevice of the ear.

It is understood that this pet tortoise which contributes to the
bio-diversity in a large measure has been prohibited in certain
countries while in some other countries, this tortoise species though
kept as pets in tanks, they are not permitted to be kept in ponds.