I think that some tortoises and turtles do still need to be imported to establish captive breeding colonies. However, the majority of imported animals are brought in by people who see the animals as profit rather than the next founder of a captive breeding program. Yes, they still love the animals but are not as concerned with their status in the wild. I have helped friends with their imported shipments to only watch tortoises die over time while they wait for a pet shop or another wholesaler interested in some tortoises, what I see as a tremendous waste. Of those that do get shipped out, they rest in the hands of a (more than likely) uncapable owner. A wild caught hingeback tortoise sold in a pet store has little to no chance of survival.



I think if shipments of tortoises were brought in by capable groups of people or an organization that were willing to immediately acclimate the entire shipment of tortoises/turtles and then use those turtles as breeding stock, the importation of wild caught turtles/tortoises would be justified.

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