Two people might face charges after trying to sell a Western Painted Turtle they had kept as a pet in Kelowna.
The Conservation Officer Service launched an investigation after a complaint was made to the RAPP hotline from someone who had seen the turtle advertised for sale online. Charges of possession of live wildlife and wildlife trafficking are being considered as this investigation continues.
Conservation Officers seized the turtle and it was delivered to the BC Wildlife Park in Kamloops today. It will be cared for at the park as it undergoes assessments.
COS reminds that it is illegal to keep any kind of wildlife as a pet. Taking an animal from the wild can result in it having an unnatural life in captivity, or the animal may be accidentally killed by the action.
In various parts of B.C., the Western Painted Turtle is considered a Threatened Species, or Species of Concern, which means its removal from the wild can have a devastating impact on the population.
Every year, the COS encounters people who have taken wildlife home. In some cases, such as ‘rescuing’ deer fawns, people are well-meaning but these actions often end with the animal not being able to be released back into the wild.
