Reptile & Amphibian Forums

DAILY MIRROR (Columbo, Sri Lanka) 16 December 13 Millions worth rare albino turtle stolen (Darshana Sanjeewa)
A rare species of albino turtle claimed to be worth over Rs.35 million had been stolen from a private turtle hatchery and research centre Kosgoda last night.
The five year old turtle, weighing 9.5 kg and 60 cm in length and 35 cm in width is one of the four such white turtles housed at the center.
The owner of the Center C. Chandrasiri Abbrew said that there was heavy demand for the animal during the past six months and that when the workers had turned up this morning the turtle was missing.
The sanctuary has three more white turtles that are said to be very small with the one that has been stolen being the most valuable.
The Kosgoda Police are conducting investigations into the incident.
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MINIVAN NEWS (Male’, Maldives) 21 December 13 Albino turtle stolen from Sri Lanka was to be used for “black magic on a Maldivian politician” (Ahmed Rilwan)
A Sri Lankan residing in Maldives offered more than US$ 26,000 to buy an albino turtle to use it in a black magic ritual on a Maldivian politician, popular Sri Lankan singer Amal Perera has told Sri Lankan Police.
The rare albino turtle had disappeared from the Kosgoda Sea Turtle Conservation Sanctuary on December 18. According to Sri Lankan media, the police questioned Perera for three hours after the sanctuary’s owner alleged Perera’s involvement in the turtle’s disappearance.
‘Ceylon Today‘ quotes Perera as saying: “I went to the Kosgoda Sea Turtle Conservation Sanctuary in July with a person called ‘Supun’ who had come to the country representing a Maldivian national.”
Amal denied any involvement in the turtle’s disappearance and said there was no exchange of money during the July visit.
Police are now looking for Supun who is believed to be in Sri Lanka at present. Sri Lankan Wildlife Resources Conservation Minister Vijith Vijithamuni Soyza told media last week that he believed the turtle could have been smuggled into the Maldives.
The belief and use of traditional “Fanditha” magic for various purposes – ranging from courting and divorce to sports and politics – is fairly common in the Maldivian culture. A surge in suspected use of Black magic for political reasons was witnessed following the controversial power transfer in February 2011 and in the run up to presidential elections.
Maldives Police Service have investigated a number of cases including the case of a Black magic doll at a polling station and a cursed coconut in September 2013.
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