ABBOTSFORD NEWS (British Columbia) 15 November 05 Yarrow man fined $8,000 for attempting to smuggle animals
A Yarrow man has been fined $8,000 after he attempted to smuggle live animals into Canada, the Canada Border Services Agency announced Monday.
Last month, Kenneth Grant Howard pleaded guilty to three counts of importing animals without permits under WAPPRIITA (Wild Animal and Plant Protection and Regulation of International and Interprovincial Trade Act) and the Customs Act.
Howard was fined $500 for each count and was ordered to pay an additional $6,500 to the Environmental Damages Fund to help care for the animals he attempted to bring into Canada.
On June 25, 2004, Howard attempted to smuggle 12 young Kinosternidae turtles into Canada.
He did not declare the animals, nor did he have the proper permits required to bring them across the border.
Howard again attempted to bring endangered animals into the country on November 17, 2004.
On this occasion, he failed to declare live crickets, two Florida box turtles and a large Burmese mountain tortoise.
A portion of the $6,500 payment to the Environmental Damages Fund will go to the aquarium that looked after the turtles until the conclusion of the court case. The remainder of the amount will go towards public education on the endangered species trade.
The seized animals have found new homes in zoos certified by the Canadian Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
Yarrow man fined $8,000 for attempting to smuggle animals