3 traffickers arrested with 128 turtles

3 reptile traffickers arrested with 128 helmet freshwater turtles. They are members of a family, which is a part of a large ring of turtle traffickers and have been trafficking turtles for more than 20 years. African Helmet Turtles are relatively small omnivorous sweet water turtles that live in fresh and stagnant water bodies throughout Sub-Saharan Africa. They feed on insects, small crustaceans, fish, tadpoles, earthworms, snails and vegetation, sometimes also on corps. Groups of these turtles have been observed capturing and drowning larger prey such as doves when they come to drink; the commotion caused by these group attacks are often mistaken for crocodiles. During the dry season they hibernate, and after it ends, they become intensively trafficked. They are often sold to Chinese as a delicacy, but they are also exported to Europe and USA where they are kept as popular pets. All the sweet water turtles are fully protected in Senegal.