Turkey: 3 Germans fined for collecting endangered reptiles

Three Germans have been fined about 44,565 U.S. dollars for collecting endangered snakes, lizards and plants in Turkey, local media reported.

The trio, identified as Willibald Schneider, Christoph Schneider, and Hans Eichinger, entered Turkey by car from Turkgozu border crossing with Georgia to collect rare flora and fauna, BGN news reported on its website on Wednesday.

The were caught in a forested area in Turkey's northeastern province of Ardahan near the Georgian border and fined 116,253 Turkish lira, BGN said.

Authorities seized 14 smooth newts, one viper, a variety of other as-yet unidentified animals and plants, in addition to trapping equipment and photographs of flora and fauna, which are reportedly endangered according to Turkish law.
 Xinhua - china.org.cn
  15/5/15
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