A Sri Lankan Wildlife official destroys the illegal animal trap set by the poachers near the Yala National park in Hambantota, Sri Lanka.
They are accused of stealing hundreds of endangered animals and exotic plants from reserves and forests in Sri Lanka. Three Russians, arrested in February, in possession of 529 protected animals, are due to stand trial at the end of the month.
In Sri Lanka, three Russians have been accused of stealing hundreds of endangered animals and exotic plants from rainforests and reserves, authorities said on Friday.
The men, a biologist, an archaeologist and a computer specialist, were arrested in February, in possession of 529 animals, most of them endemic to Sri Lanka, said an official of the Department of wildlife, Pradeep Kumara.
They had captured these animals, as well as plants, in different forests and reserves across the country.
230 animals saved
We were able to save 230 animals, including scorpions, spiders, butterflies, geckos and lizards, and release them to their natural habitat , said Pradeep Kumara. The other animals were already dead .
The three men are expected to be brought to justice on May 28.
Foreigners convicted of this type of crime are usually fined heavily.
Two Chinese people were sentenced last year to pay a record fine of $ 50,000 for trying to get 79 insects found in national parks out of the country.
This year, a Chinese man was convicted of trying to get 200 scorpions out of the country.
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