SUNDAY TRIBUNE (Pietermaritzburg, S Africa) 21 May 06 Giant tortoise stolen for muthi
The maggt-infested remains of a 75-year-old tortoise - which was worth R35 000 and had been stolen from the Lion Park in Ashburton - were recovered this week, together with the carcasses of other endangered species.
Two sangomas and four men have been arrested in connection with the theft and possession of specially protected game.
The sangomas, aged 46 and 39, were arrested in Imbali after members of the Organised Crime Unit acted on a tip-off on Thursday.
The four men were arrested in Camperdown. All will appear in the Pietermaritzburg magistrate's court on Monday.
SAPS Sergeant Sumay van Zyl said police had also found tortoise eggs and lion and leopard skins. The tortoise was stolen from the Lion Park on May 15 and allegedly sold to the women.
Insp Rian van Rooyen said although police were not ruling out the possibility of the suspects being part of a syndicate, they believed the items recovered had been used for muthi. Van Rooyen said there was a huge illegal trade in endangered species for the muthi market.
He said in the past six months, the unit had recovered ivory, rhino horn and several lion, leopard and buck hides.
Van Rooyen said poaching was increasing, especially in KwaZulu-Natal, because of the province's many game reserves and an increased demand due to the flourishing muthi market.
The owner of the Lion Park Zoo, Brian Boswell, believes that the Seychelles giant tortoise that was stolen on Monday was killed on the premises.
"There was blood where the tortoise was kept," he said. He added that the tortoise weighed at least 100kg and it usually took two men to carry it.
He confirmed the tortoise was carrying eggs.
The Seychelles giant tortoise, which was once thought to be extinct, is a critically endangered species and can live more than 100 years. On its home island it is only bred in captivity.
Tortoise stolen for muthi