Confiscated Greek Tortoises

539 Greek tortoises were confiscated by Customs at the Syrian-Jordanian border and transferred to the New Hope Centre by the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature on November 16, 2018. Tragically, 10 tortoises died in transit due to the severely overcrowded smuggling conditions. Smugglers typically pack animals into tight spaces to maximize the number transported. The confiscated tortoises are remarkably young—some newly hatched—weighing as little as 5 grams each. They will remain at the New Hope Centre during quarantine until they develop sufficient strength and maturity for eventual release.