Smugglers nabbed nearly 6,000 protected turtles from Florida to be sold as pets in China

According to federal court documents, the smugglers shipped 5,581 protected Florida turtles to Hong Kong to be resold as pets in mainland China in a total of 16 shipments over the course of three years. The diamondback terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin) species — pictured here — was one of the protected reptiles targeted by the smugglers. (Matthew J. Aresco / Courtesy)