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THE AGE (Melbourne, Australia) 19 March 06 Killer turtles seized along with illegal weapons (Mark Russell)
Customs officers have raided a Pascoe Vale house and seized three red-eared slider turtles illegally imported from the US.
The turtles are considered an enemy to the Australian environment, on a par with the cane toad and the European carp.
The customs raid followed the interception of an air cargo package in Sydney last month bound for a Melbourne address, which contained prohibited imports including butterfly knives, slingshots with arm braces, and a flick knife.
A customs spokesman said officers involved in the raid had seized a crossbow and the turtles, which are native to the United States. A 37-year-old man has been interviewed but not charged. The maximum penalty for importing prohibited weapons is $275,000 and 10 years' jail. Illegal exotic reptile importers face fines of up to $110,000 and five years' jail.
Red-eared slider turtles grow to about 30 centimetres and have dangerous claws, prey on native species and can spread disease.
They are a freshwater turtle with a red stripe behind each eye and, unlike native turtles, can retract their heads straight back into their shells. Native species withdraw their heads to the side.

http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/killer-turtles-seized-along-with-illegal-weapons/2006/03/18/1142582577842.html

AHHHH. The evil killer red eared slider. They sneak up behind you and drag you off into the water before you have a chance to scream for help. OR worse yet they move into your neighborhood and marry your sister leaving you with nieces and nephews who have shells and an insatiable appetite for reptomin. LOL!!! Honestly, we all know they are a pest specie but they really do vilify the poor creatures making them sound like they are the spawn of devil for Pete's sake!! Such Drama!!

i especially liked the "dangerous claws" part...

nevermind that Austrailia has most of the world's deadliest snakes and now they've also got killer turtles!

LOL. Venom. BAH -- It's nothing compared to the shredding claws of a male red eared slider. They can slice a man's belly open with one swipe. They can disembowel a Australian saltwater croc!. LOL!! Yeah this article really is funny.

On this episode the croc hunter faces his greatest threat yet: a RES sunning itself on a log, just waiting for an unsespecting person to drag to the depths of the river, will stevo be that person? Watch and see as steve relives his most horrifying encounter with the dangerous killer turtle from the USA!

I dont know which is funnier, that first paragraph or this:

Teenage mutant ninja turtles,
Teenage mutant ninja turtles,
worriors in a half-shell,
turtle power!

(I think thats how it goes, havent seen any TMNT shows for like 10 years...)

Oh right, dangerous sharp claws..what a horrible animal. My four are vicious bloodthirsty creatures. I see their concern for their enviorment down there, but jeez, they're not dangerous to humans. We're dangerous to them.
Most likely those turtles were murdered or will be after the case is over. Poor things.

np
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